Question

Manny likes to use lots of dialogue tags in his writing. His writing teacher tells him that although dialogue tags can be extremely useful, they can lower the quality of a piece of writing if they are not used appropriately. What advice would Manny's teacher most likely give him regarding the appropriate way to use dialogue tags? a) Use dialogue tags liberally to clarify who is speaking. b) Only use dialogue tags when absolutely necessary to avoid confusion. c) Use a variety of creative dialogue tags to make the writing more interesting. d) Use dialogue tags primarily for characters' thoughts and feelings.

Answer 1

Manny's writing teacher recommends using dialogue tags only when necessary to avoid confusion and to make dialogue multifunctional, conveying emotions and relationships while keeping the reader immersed in the narrative.

Step-by-step explanation:

Manny's writing teacher would most likely advise him to use dialogue tags sparingly and only when they are necessary to avoid confusion. An effective use of dialogue tags helps to maintain the quality of writing by keeping it clear and engaging without excessive explanation or interruption of the narrative flow.

To maximize the impact of dialogue, Manny should focus on making it multifunctional, allowing it to convey more than the mere words of the characters. It should show the characters' emotions, relationships, and pacing of the scenes, and when combined with action, it can vividly bring the readers into the story.

Adding too many dialogue tags or using overly creative ones can distract the reader and make the dialogue feel artificial. Manny should be guided by the principles of 'Show, don't tell,' and use dialogue organically to reveal character traits, drive the story forward, and immerse the audience in the narrative.