: Re: Why is the construct "'hello' says Pete" most common? I am asking this from the point of a reader not a writer and just wondering why, so sorry if this is a bad place. I read loads of

@Kaufman555

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Adding dialogue tags with adverbs is generally considered poor form and lazy writing because it removes the need for the writer to use dialogue, non-verbal cues, and action that properly conveys the emotion of the character. It is telling the reader how the character feels about what's being said rather than showing it.

So, if you remove the lazy dialogue tags from this example, and just go with said (which is generally preferable) putting the speech first and dialogue tag after is more common because it puts the emphasis on the speech instead of the tag:

'What a day,' said Kate.

As opposed to:

Kate said, 'What a day.'

But, an experienced writer will use the 'said' dialogue tag in different places to break up the rhythm of speech. Or, they'll use character actions to inform the reader who's speaking without the need for 'said'. Like this:

‘Hey, what’s wrong?’ He pulls me close. ‘It’s just a book. Don’t
all your lovers buy you presents?’

‘No,’ I sniff. ‘My other lover’s useless, he never buys me anything.’

‘Hardly surprising,' he says, 'he’s been tied up in the trunk of my car for a
fortnight.’

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