Describing laughter in dialogue?
I'm having a problem that is not addressed by The Chicago Manual of Style or the AP Style Guide I have access to: How does a writer express laughter in fiction?
I have seen no consistent answer. It seems playwriting and screenplays generally include it since actors are taught to say what's in front of them.
The most commonly used expression in prose is ha ha, with numerous variations. However, some feel "inclusion of such expressions are a sign of bad writing."
It is possible to write: Stu laughed and then exclaimed, "So the bug turns into the robot!"
Or one could write: "Ha ha! So the bug turns into the robot!" [Assuming it is understood Stu is the speaker.]
Or even: Laughing, Stu could barely be understood through his chortling: "So the bug--ha ha ha!--turns into the robot, ha ha!"
Is this truly a style issue, or do these have a ranking in terms of readability and fiction preference?
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3 answers
Oh God! not the dialogue tag debate . . . again.
Firstly, those who believe 'said' is the only valid dialogue tag and dialogue tags should be invisible are misled. It's fine if you don't write a lot of dialogue - otherwise it's the worst advice possible. - Write a long dialogue exchange using only 'said' as a tag, the read it out aloud. It'll sound like Chinese water torture.
To the OP. There is no ONE way, or a CORRECT way to write most things. Ultimately there is only YOUR way.
Much like words . . . if you use the same word to describe the same action the prose becomes repetitive. You may use all any any method do indicate laughter in the same passage.
"So you see then it's a robot," said Bob.
"I see."
"What's so funny? Why are you laughing?"
"I didn't. I'm not," replied Dave, obscuring his mouth with his hand. "Carry on . . ."
"So the robot . . ."
"Ha-ha-ha!"
"What's so funny!"
"Nothing," replied Dave attempting to curtail his laughter. "Gimme one sec . . ."
Bob laughed. "I suppose it is kinda funny."
"Ha-ha!" Dave erupted. "A bug turning into a robot isn't funny. It's ridiculous!"
- Think I've used most methods.
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Any word other than said draws your attention to the tag and not the dialogue. This is creative writing 101. I am twice published and working on my third and I have never had a reader, reviewer or editor complain about my use of the word said.
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Handle laughter not as words spoken, but as a physical action.
Looking at my own work, I just say "laughed."
I never write multiple "Ha". I have written,
Jack was amused. "Ha. Then we'll charge 'em for the visit, too."
Richard laughed.
IRL, I hear people sometimes say "Ha" or "Heh" when amused, as an actual word. But I consider an actual laugh an action.
Analogously, I hear "Ow", "Ouch", "Oy" as actual voiced words (depending on culture) that indicate pain was felt, but I wouldn't try to put into voice a scream or other such vocalizations (grunts, moans, crying) that I consider to be more actions than words.
I can't spell out a laugh, or a scream, or the sound somebody makes when sliced by a sword, or the heavy breathing sounds they make when panting after a long sprint.
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