Understanding dialogue tag placement: before, during, or after speech?

What are dialogue tags?

Dialogue tags are those little phrases that tell the reader who is speaking and play a crucial role in providing clarity, rhythm, and flow to the story.

But where should they go? Can you place a dialogue tag before a character's speech, or is it better to put it after? Can you insert it in the middle of the speech?

The short answer is yes; you can place a dialogue tag before, during, or after a character's speech. Where you put it has a different effect on the pacing and tone of the dialogue, so let's examine each one and see which is most commonly used.

Placing the dialogue tag before the character's speech

Starting with a dialogue tag is absolutely fine, although it's less common than placing it after the character's speech. By placing it before the dialogue, the speaker is identified before the words are spoken.

Example:

Lorna said, ‘I can't believe he did that.’

This works well if you want to emphasise who is speaking before the words are said. However, because it can slow down the pacing of the dialogue (and thus the story), it's not used as frequently.

Placing the dialogue tag after the character's speech

This is by far the most common and natural format; readers are used to seeing the speech first, followed by the dialogue tag.

Example:

‘I can't believe he did that,’ said Lorna.

By putting the dialogue first, the conversation feels more immediate and helps keep the focus on what's being said rather than who's saying it.

Placing the dialogue tag in the middle of the character's speech

Sometimes, breaking up dialogue with a tag can create a natural pause or help if you want to vary the rhythm of the speech. It's also great for longer pieces of dialogue or when a character hesitates mid-sentence.

Example:

‘I can't believe,‘ Lorna said, shaking her head, ‘that he did that.’

Which placement is best?

The most commonly used placement is after the dialogue because it feels more natural and keeps the focus on the conversation. Placing the tag before the speech is less common but is still acceptable. Middle placement is great for breaking up longer dialogue or for adding variety or rhythm.

So, whether you place dialogue tags before, during, or after a character's speech depends on the effect you want to create. For smooth, natural dialogue, placing the tag after the speech is the go-to option. But you may want to try the different options and see how they bring different meanings and rhythm to your writing.

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