10 Dialogue Mistakes Writers Make (And How To Fix Them)
Good dialogue makes characters come alive. Learn the 10 mistakes writers should avoid and use our infographic to create stronger, more natural conversations.
Writing good dialogue can be difficult. Characters speak in stories, but they do not speak exactly like real people. Fictional dialogue needs to feel natural while also revealing character, creating conflict, and moving the story forward.
Writers know that every conversation needs a purpose. We need to make every exchange count, ensure our characters do not all sound the same, and remove unnecessary dialogue that slows the story down.
Pay special attention to your four main characters. Your:
should each have a distinct voice. Their vocabulary, speech patterns, and rhythms should help readers understand who they are.
In this post, we look at some of the most common dialogue mistakes beginner writers make. Avoid these errors, and your dialogue will become more professional, natural, and reader-friendly.
10 Dialogue Mistakes Writers Make (And How To Fix Them)
1. Stilted Exchanges
Your dialogue may not sound natural. This is one of the most common mistakes made by first-time novelists. Read your dialogue aloud and ask yourself: does this sound like something a real person would say? Have you included contractions? When we speak, we usually say ‘I’ll’ rather than ‘I will’, and ‘can’t’ rather than ‘cannot’. Small details like these can make dialogue feel more authentic.
Example:
❌ Stilted: ‘I am extremely pleased to see you. I have been waiting for two hours.’
✅ More natural: ‘I’m glad you’re here. I’ve been waiting for two hours.’
2. Similar Voices
Make sure each character has a distinct voice. They should have different patterns of speech, vocabulary choices, and ways of expressing themselves. A character’s voice can reveal important details about their background, education, personality, and level of self-awareness. If every character sounds the same, readers struggle to tell them apart.
Example:
❌ Similar voices:
‘I think we should leave now. It is getting late.’
‘I think we should leave now. It is getting late.’
✅ Distinct voices:
‘Let’s go. Now.’
‘I’d rather leave before it gets dark.’
3. Small Talk
Small talk is often filler dialogue. It does not advance the plot or deepen our understanding of the characters. Sometimes writers include it because they feel characters have not spoken for a while, or because they want to create white space on the page. Ask yourself: is this conversation serving the reader? Good dialogue should reveal emotions, expose motivations, create tension, or prompt action. If it does none of these things, it may not belong in the story.
Example:
❌ Filler:
‘Lovely weather.’
‘Yes, it is.’
‘Looks like rain tomorrow.’
✅ With conflict:
‘Lovely weather.’
‘Funny. You only smile when you’re about to ask for money.’
4. Exposition
Exposition happens when a character explains a large amount of information in dialogue. This is one of the worst examples of telling rather than showing. Sometimes writers need to share backstory or important details, and they use a character to deliver information instead of weaving it naturally into the story. Avoid making your characters sound like they are explaining the plot to the reader. Let information emerge through conflict, action, and meaningful conversations.
Example:
❌ Too much exposition
‘As you know, we’ve worked together for ten years since your father hired us after university.’
✅ More natural dialogue
‘Ten years.’
‘Don’t remind me.’
‘You still owe me for my first week’s wages.’
5. Using Names In Dialogue
Most people do not constantly use each other’s names when they speak. We usually say someone’s name when we want to get their attention: ‘Jack! We’re over here!’ Or when we want to make a point: ‘I warned you to stop lying, Dylan.’ Using a character’s name too often can make dialogue sound unnatural. It can even make your character sound like a salesperson at a convention. Use names when they have a purpose, not simply to remind readers who is speaking.
Example:
❌ Too many names
‘Sarah, can you pass me the file?’
‘Of course, Michael.’
‘Thank you, Sarah.’
✅ More effective
‘Can you pass me the file?’
‘Sure.’
‘Thanks.’
6. Not Using ‘Said’
Writers often worry that they use ‘said’ too often. They replace it with verbs like ‘shouted’, ‘stuttered’, ‘breathed’, ‘exclaimed’, ‘cried’, ‘mused’, ‘whispered’, ‘stammered’, ‘uttered’, ‘insinuated’, or ‘hesitated’. Most of the time, ‘said’ works perfectly. Readers barely notice it, which allows them to focus on the character’s words. Use stronger dialogue tags sparingly. Your characters’ words, actions, and body language should reveal their emotions and intentions.
Example:
❌ Too many synonyms for said
‘I don’t believe you!’ she exclaimed angrily.
‘It’s true,’ he protested desperately.
✅ More effective
‘I don’t believe you,’ she said.
He met her eyes. ‘It’s true.’
7. Forgotten Dialogue Tags
A dialogue tag identifies who is speaking, such as ‘he said’ or ‘she said’. If readers have to stop and work out who is talking, you need to include more dialogue tags. However, avoid filling every line of dialogue with them. Too many tags can clutter the page and distract from the conversation. Find a balance between clarity and flow. Also avoid relying too heavily on adverbial dialogue tags. Instead of writing: ‘You are wrong,’ she said angrily. Show the anger through the character’s words and actions.
Example:
❌ Less effective
‘Where are the keys?’
‘I haven’t seen them.’
‘You had them yesterday.’
‘Did I?’
Readers may struggle to work out who is speaking.
✅ More effective
‘Where are the keys?’ Ben asked.
‘I haven’t seen them,’ Lucy said.
‘You had them yesterday.’
Lucy frowned. ‘Did I?’
A few well-placed tags keep readers oriented.
8. Incorrect Dialogue Punctuation
Incorrect punctuation can confuse readers and interrupt the flow of your story. Use quotation marks correctly, decide on your preferred dialogue format, and apply it consistently throughout your manuscript. Small punctuation mistakes can distract readers from an otherwise strong conversation.
Example:
❌ Incorrect punctuation
‘I’ll meet you outside.’ She said.
✅ Correct punctuation
‘I’ll meet you outside,’ she said.
Dialogue tags are not new sentences, so ‘she’ should not begin with a capital letter.
9. Unimportant Conversations
Some conversations contain information that may be necessary but do not need to appear as dialogue. For example, if readers only need to know that a character will return on Monday, you may not need an entire conversation to reveal this information. Ask yourself whether the exchange creates friction, tension, reveals character, or moves the story forward. If it does not, consider removing it or finding another way to share the information.
Example:
❌ Not necessary
‘I’ll see you on Monday.’
‘At nine?’
‘Yes.’
‘Should I bring the report?’
‘Yes.’
✅ More effective
He arranged to meet her on Monday morning.
10. Too Much Talk
Sometimes silence can be more powerful than words. The things characters choose not to say can reveal more than what they do say. There are moments when a character has no words powerful enough to express their feelings, or when they are unable or unwilling to speak. Use silence carefully. When used at the right moment, it can create some of the most memorable scenes in fiction.
Example:
❌ Talking too much
‘I’m disappointed because I trusted you, and now I’m angry and upset about what you’ve done.’
✅ More effective
‘I trusted you.’
Silence.
‘That was my mistake.’
Dialogue Mistakes Infographic
Prefer a quick reference guide? We have also created an infographic that summarises these dialogue mistakes and shows you how to avoid them. Save it, share it, and use it as a reminder when editing your own conversations.
Five Exercises To Help You Avoid These Dialogue Errors
- Eavesdrop. Listen to real conversations to understand how differently people speak. Some people use short statements or fragments. Others speak in long, carefully structured sentences. Pay attention to vocabulary, rhythm, and the way people express emotions.
- Ask five different people the same question. Ask five different people the same question and compare their responses. Notice the different words they use, the details they include, and the ways they express their thoughts. This is a useful exercise for creating distinct character voices.
- Write dialogue-only scenes. Write a scene using only dialogue. This forces you to focus on making each character sound unique and helps you identify when different voices are too similar.
- Tell a story. Write a scene where one character tells another character a story. Make sure the listener is engaged and only interrupts when necessary. Use the conversation to reveal personality, emotions, and relationships.
- Silence. Write a scene where one character should speak but cannot or will not. Explore what happens when emotions, fear, anger, or uncertainty prevent someone from saying what they want to say.
The Last Word
Good dialogue is about more than making characters talk. It reveals personality, creates conflict, moves the story forward, and helps readers connect with your characters. By avoiding these common dialogue mistakes and practising the techniques that make conversations feel natural, you can write dialogue that brings your stories to life.
Image by Foundry Co from Pixabay
by Amanda Patterson
© Amanda Patterson
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