How to express sarcasm in non-dialogue text?
You know how sometimes we say something sarcastically, and do the double-finger twitch that's supposed to symbolize quotation marks? How do you write that in non-dialogue text (narration)? Not describing that a character is talking like that and doing those things with his fingers, but as part of the non-dialog text.
E.g.
He gave him a "playful" look.
(Would this be correct?)
P.S. Please don't tell me to describe what the character's eyes looked like (showing not telling). I know that already. This is just an example. I'm asking what I (the writer/narrator) could do to express sarcasm in the text.
This post was sourced from https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/31991. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
3 answers
Don't use quotation marks.
They just look as if you don't know what word to use. It makes you (the author, not the narrator) look lost for words. That's not your intent.
One option is to change the sarcastic part to something that makes it clear that the intention is sarcastic:
He gave him an oh-so-playful look.
A neutral narrator wouldn't say it like that, so the sarcastic tone comes through clearly.
Another option is actually to use air quotes in the same way people use them when you cannot see them: say them out loud.
He gave him a quote-unquote playful look.
Both options are perfectly fine, it's really more a question of the character of your narrator which one they would use. In my mind, the second option sounds a bit more "gossipy", while the first one sounds more sardonical and mocking.
I realize that the question is quite old, but I do think the accepted answer has unintended connotations and is therefore a bit problematic.
This post was sourced from https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/44545. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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This is one of those instances where figuring out how to show is simply too tedious and detracts too much. It is far easier and far better to simply tell.
The first thing to realize is that there is no 'right' way to do this (unless it's in a style manual you are following). You're idea of simply putting quote marks there is a good one. And quite honestly, I can't think of any better way to do it.
He gave him a 'playful' look.
The only thing I might do is use the single quotes rather than the double. Double quotes makes it look too much like dialogue for me.
This technique does everything you need it to, and that's ultimately all that matters. It conveys the point to the reader quickly, clearly, and in the fastest manner possible. Honestly, trying to think up a different way to do this would probably yield an unclear or slow method which would be worse.
Go with the quotes.
It should be noted that this is my opinion, and not backed by any formal style guide that I know of.
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Call them air quotes. Enclose in single quotes, you can emphasize it with further characterization. "She said she was 'devastated'," Julie said, with air quotes. "Right, right? Because I thought, then why were you laughing?"
Don't use "air quotes", use actual quotes, and call the gesture air quotes.
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