Common Mistakes in Dialogue (and How to Fix Them)

Dialogue can make or break a story. It’s one of the quickest ways to show character, build tension, and move the plot forward—but only if it feels real. Many writers struggle with dialogue that sounds stiff, confusing, or just…off. Here are some common mistakes and how to fix them.

1. Dialogue That Sounds Too Formal

The mistake:

Characters speak like they’re writing essays instead of having conversations.

“I cannot believe you did that. It is entirely unacceptable.”

The fix:

Write how people actually talk. Use contractions, interruptions, and emotion.

“I can’t believe you did that. That’s not okay.”

2. Too Much Small Talk

The mistake:

You open every conversation with greetings and weather updates.

“Hi, how are you?”

“Good, and you?”

The fix:

Start where the tension begins. Jump straight into the meat of the exchange.

“You didn’t show up last night. Why?”

3. Overusing Names

The mistake:

Characters repeat each other’s names too often.

“I don’t know, Sarah.”

“But you must, John.”

The fix:

In real life, we don’t constantly say people’s names mid-conversation. Use them sparingly—only when needed for clarity or emphasis.

4. Info Dumping in Dialogue

The mistake:

Using dialogue to unload backstory or world-building.

“As you know, brother, our family has ruled this land for 300 years.”

The fix:

Break information into natural snippets or show it through action and emotion.

“Three hundred years of ruling, and this is what it’s come to,” he muttered.

5. Everyone Sounds the Same

The mistake:

All your characters talk with the same rhythm, vocabulary, and tone.

The fix:

Give each person a distinct voice. Think about background, personality, and emotion. A teenager, a professor, and a mechanic won’t use the same words or sentence structures.

6. Telling Instead of Revealing Emotion

The mistake:

Characters explain how they feel instead of showing it.

“I’m angry at you.”

The fix:

Let the dialogue and body language do the work.

“Don’t. Just don’t talk to me right now.”

Final Tip: Read It Out Loud

If your dialogue sounds awkward when spoken, it will read awkwardly too. Read it aloud—or better yet, act it out. You’ll instantly spot what needs tightening.

Strong dialogue feels alive.

It’s messy, emotional, and full of subtext—just like real conversations. When in doubt, keep it natural, purposeful, and true to your characters.