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Q&A How should I use phrases such as "uh huh"?

I have seen various combinations of interjections (or "grunt words", as they are sometimes called) used in fictional dialogue, such as: uh huh (which I take for a yes) uh uh (for no) nuh uh (also ...

1 answer  ·  posted 12y ago by tcrosley‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Question fiction
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T02:20:57Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/5565
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by user avatar tcrosley‭ · 2019-12-08T02:20:57Z (over 4 years ago)
I have seen various combinations of interjections (or "grunt words", as they are sometimes called) used in fictional dialogue, such as:

    uh huh (which I take for a yes)
    uh uh (for no)
    nuh uh (also saw that once for no, but I'm not even sure nuh is even a word)

whereas a standalone "huh?" usually means the person doesn't understand something.

Are these commonly associated with the meanings I have assumed (either in American English, or elsewhere)? Are there others I have missed?

Are they really appropriate to use in dialogue? What effect does having them (or not) have?

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2012-05-01T20:24:07Z (almost 12 years ago)
Original score: 8