Dialogue belongs to the characters, so the narrator’s comments can sometimes interfere with its natural flow. However, dialogue tags and other narrative cues become necessary in longer conversations or in scenes involving several characters.
The key is to use them without interrupting the rhythm of the dialogue. Here are a few useful techniques.
1. Brevity Is the Soul of Wit
As readers, we are all familiar with expressions such as “John said,” “Mary asked,” or “Sue replied.” Simple dialogue tags like these are usually almost invisible, but using them after every line can make a conversation feel repetitive and slow.
The same applies to unnecessary adverbs or explanations. Take a look at this example:
“Pass me the salt,” the father said dryly.
“Here you are,” the girl said, passing him the salt.
“How was school today?” the mother asked mechanically.
“A writer gave us a talk,” the girl answered enthusiastically.
The conversation feels stiff and unnatural. Some of the information is redundant, while the adverbs explain emotions that could be conveyed through the characters’ words, actions, or tone.
Instead of telling the reader exactly how every line is spoken, try to let the dialogue and the characters’ individual voices do some of the work.
2. Keep It Simple
In an attempt to avoid repeating said or asked, some writers create an entire catalogue of synonyms: grumbled, gasped, declared, exclaimed, protested, insisted, and so on.
There is nothing wrong with these verbs when they add useful information, but they can become distracting if they are used simply to avoid repetition.
As the American writer Elmore Leonard pointed out, said is much less intrusive than more elaborate alternatives. He even recalled coming across the verb asseverated in a dialogue tag and having to stop reading to look it up.
That is exactly what you want to avoid.
Dialogue tags should support the conversation, not draw attention away from it. In most cases, said and asked are perfectly good choices.
3. Use Vocatives
Vocatives can help make it clear who a character is speaking to and sometimes reduce the need for a dialogue tag.
For example:
“Pass me the salt.”
“Here you are, Dad.”
“How was school today?” her mother asked.
“A writer gave us a talk!”
Thanks to the word Dad, we immediately understand who the second speaker is addressing, so the narrator only needs to intervene once.
However, be careful not to overuse this technique. In real conversations, people do not constantly address each other by name, and too many vocatives can make dialogue sound artificial.
4. Every Character Has a Voice
Each character should have their own way of speaking.
Their favorite words, expressions, vocabulary, rhythm, level of formality, and even the kinds of things they choose to say can help readers identify them without needing a tag every time.
If you manage to give your characters distinctive voices, the narrator will need to intervene less often.
That said, do not go too far. Your characters do not need to speak in an exaggerated or peculiar way simply to sound different. Their voices should still feel natural and consistent with who they are.
5. Describe the Scene
If a conversation goes on for too long without any interruption, you can insert short descriptions of the characters, their actions, or the setting.
These moments can help identify who is speaking while also adding context and meaning to the scene.
Let’s return to our example:
“Pass me the salt.”
“Here you are, Dad.”
The mother avoided her husband’s gaze and looked instead at their daughter, who was eating her lunch, apparently unaware of the tension between her parents.
“How was school today?”
“A writer gave us a talk!”
This small addition changes the scene completely. The dialogue is no longer just an exchange of information: now there is tension underneath it.
Descriptions and actions can also help control the rhythm of the conversation. They slow things down slightly, which can be useful when you want to create tension, emphasize a reaction, or give the reader a moment to absorb what has just been said.
As always, the key is balance. Too many interruptions can make dialogue feel slow, while too few can leave the reader unsure of who is speaking or what is happening around the characters.
Dialogue tags, character voice, actions, and description should all work together to make the conversation clear, natural, and engaging.
Happy writing!