Dialogue

Explanations: Telling how the words are spoken can sometimes be useful, but phrases to interpret speeches can easily slide into cliché. Generally it’s better to make the speaker’s actual words show mood, rather than explain it.

Said: The simple verb "said" (he said, she said) has the advantage of almost disappearing from the narrative if used sparingly. It accomplishes the purpose without being intrusive.

Other verbs: Some verbs such as whispered, shouted, help to clarify how the words are said. Others are overblown (he gritted) or silly (she orated) or impossible (He grinned, "Watch this.") You can grin and then speak, but you can't "grin" words. Yes, some times punctuation does make a difference even if the reader may not notice.

Adverbs: Some adverbs help clarify how the words are said and can illustrate non-literal meanings which may not be apparent from the words alone, as in: "'Are you done?' The words were spoken in dulcet tones, overshadowing the dismissive ending." Others are redundant, such as, "I hate you!" she said angrily. Most writers suggest adverbs be used sparingly.

Attribution is the way you tell your reader who is speaking and how they are speaking. If you’ve paragraphed properly and started a new paragraph with each new speaker, then you may only need to tell the reader who’s speaking in every third or fourth paragraph. There are several ways to tell the reader who’s speaking.

Variation: Use a combination of attribution methods, so no one method becomes rhythmic and repetitive. Sometimes the action may be placed before the dialogue, to help with clarity.