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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/18891
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Example:

> "Exactly." John scratched the nape of his neck. It had a faint, purple blotch I hadn't noticed before. Probably sunburn. "Our lives began in the sea, and will probably end on land."
> 
> "Exactly." John scratched the nape of his neck. It had a faint, purple blotch I hadn't noticed before. Probably sunburn. "Our lives began in the sea, and will probably end on land."
> 
> "Exactly. Our lives began in the sea, and will probably end on land." John scratched the nape of his neck. It had a faint, purple blotch I hadn't noticed before. Probably sunburn.
> 
> John scratched the nape of his neck. It had a faint, purple blotch I hadn't noticed before. Probably sunburn. "Exactly. Our lives began in the sea, and will probably end on land."

Do the three examples give a different message to the reader?

These are my conclusions so far:

- Shorter action tags gives more focus to the dialogue.

- Longer action tags distract attention from the dialogue.

- Action tags that are placed before the dialogue affect the dialogue in a stronger way.

- Action tags that are placed after the dialogue affect the dialogue in a lesser way.

But I'm probably wrong, that's why I decided to write this question.

Original score: 2