Showing vs Telling
(or: how writers make ideas feel real)
- Writers can describe characters, emotions, and ideas in two main ways:
- by telling the reader directly
- or by showing them through detail and action
- Strong writing usually relies more on showing than telling.
1. What does “telling” mean?
Definition
Telling
Telling is a writing technique where the writer directly names emotions, traits, or meanings instead of revealing them through action, dialogue, or detail.
- The reader is given the answer without needing to work it out.
- Telling is clear and efficient, but it can feel flat or unengaging if overused.
Example
- He was angry.
- She felt nervous.
- The character was selfish.
- It was a sad moment.
2. What does “showing” mean?
Definition
Showing
Showing means revealing ideas, emotions, or character traits through actions, dialogue, and sensory details instead of stating them directly.
- Showing is when the writer lets the reader infer information through:
- actions
- dialogue
- thoughts
- body language
- setting and atmosphere
- The reader figures out how a character feels or who they are by paying attention to clues.
- Showing makes the reader experience the moment rather than just being told about it.
Example
- Actions: what a character does
- He avoided her eyes and folded his arms.
- Dialogue: what and how characters speak
- “Fine,” she said, too quickly.
- Body language: physical reaction.
- Her jaw tightened.
- Sensory detail: sight, sound, touch, smell, taste
- The room felt airless; the clock ticked too loudly.
- Setting & symbols: environment reflects meaning
- The paint peeled from the walls.
3. Why showing is usually more effective
- Showing:
- makes characters feel realistic
- engages the reader more actively
- allows multiple interpretations
- reveals traits, motivation, and conflict naturally
Tip
- When writers show rather than tell, readers feel trusted to think for themselves.
4. Showing vs Telling: what’s the difference?
- Telling is when the writer states information directly.
- The reader is told exactly how a character feels or what something is like.
- The reader does not need to interpret anything.
- Showing is when the writer reveals information through detail.
- The reader works things out by noticing actions, dialogue, thoughts, or description.
- The reader infers that the character is angry.
| Telling | Showing |
|---|---|
| She was nervous. | She tapped her foot and checked the clock again. |
| He was angry. | His voice dropped and his jaw tightened. |
| They were sad. | The room stayed silent long after the door closed. |
Tip
- Showing vs telling
- Telling: names the idea or emotion.
- Showing: lets the reader infer it.
5. From “He Was Angry” to “Uh-Oh”: How to Show, Not Tell
1. Circle the “telling” word
- Find the emotion or trait.
- These words label the feeling instead of showing it.
Example
- The character was angry
2. Ask: “What would this look like?”
- Think about visible signs.
Example
- Angry:
- Would they raise their voice?
- Would they move suddenly?
- Would they avoid someone or confront them?
3. Choose 2–3 clues
- Pick details the reader can see or hear.
- For anger, you might choose:
- Body language
- Clenched fists, tense shoulders, crossed arms
- Actions
- Slamming a door, pacing, tapping fingers
- Voice or dialogue
- Short replies, sharp tone, repeated questions
- Thoughts
- Replaying a moment, second-guessing, overthinking
- Body language
4. Write the scene detail, not the label
- Remove the telling word and use the clues instead.
- Telling:
- The character was angry.
- Part-way showing:
- The character clenched their fists and spoke sharply.
- Telling:
5. Add one specific, concrete detail
- This makes the moment feel real. This should be:
- something the reader can see, hear, or feel
- very specific, not general
- only one detail, not lots
- Fully showing:
- The character slammed the door so hard the frame rattled, then muttered through clenched teeth.
Note
- This sentence comes from replacing the word “angry” with visible actions and sounds.
- Slamming the door shows anger through action.
- The frame rattling is one concrete detail.
- Muttering through clenched teeth shows anger through sound and body language.
6. Now it's your turn...
Example question
- Now it’s time to practise showing instead of telling. The sentences below tell information directly in obvious ways. Your job is to rewrite them so the reader can work it out for themselves.
- Choose one or more sentences and rewrite them using one or more of the following:
- actions
- body language
- dialogue
- setting or detail
- Rewrite these sentences using showing:
- Liam was very confident.
- The classroom was tense.
- The dog was excited.
- Maya was annoyed with her brother.
- The food tasted awful.
- The old house was frightening.
- The coach was disappointed.
- The queue was impatient.
- Ella was exhausted after the race.
- The room felt awkward when he walked in.
Solution
- Telling:
- Liam was very confident.
- Showing:
- Liam walked into the room with his shoulders back, met everyone’s eyes, and answered the first question without hesitation.
- Telling:
- The classroom was tense.
- Showing:
- No one spoke as the teacher handed out the papers, and the sound of chairs scraping against the floor seemed unusually loud.
- Telling:
- The dog was excited.
- Showing:
- The dog raced in circles, its tail thumping against the wall as it jumped up and barked.
- Telling:
- Maya was annoyed with her brother.
- Showing:
- Maya crossed her arms, rolled her eyes, and responded with short, clipped answers whenever her brother spoke.
- Telling:
- The food tasted awful.
- Showing:
- He took one bite, paused, and quietly pushed the plate away, reaching instead for a glass of water.
- Telling:
- The old house was frightening.
- Showing:
- The floorboards creaked under each step, and the windows rattled even though there was no wind.
- Telling:
- The coach was disappointed.
- Showing:
- The coach sighed, shook their head slowly, and stared at the ground before speaking.
- Telling:
- The queue was impatient.
- Showing:
- People checked their watches, shifted their weight from foot to foot, and muttered under their breath.
- Telling:
- Ella was exhausted after the race.
- Showing:
- Ella bent over with her hands on her knees, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to catch her breath.
- Telling:
- The room felt awkward when he walked in.
- Showing:
- The conversation stopped mid-sentence, and several people suddenly found reasons to look at their phones.
Exam technique
- B.A.T.S.
- B: Body language
- A: Actions
- T: Thoughts
- S: Setting / speech (dialogue)
Common Mistake
- Thinking telling is always wrong
- Telling is not “bad”.
- Writers sometimes tell information quickly to move the story along.
- The problem is over-relying on telling when analysis is required.
- Quoting a telling statement and stopping there
- Students often quote something like:
“He was angry.”
- and assume this is analysis.
- This is description, not analysis.
- You still need to explain how the writer could have shown this or what the telling achieves.
- Confusing showing with summarising
- Summarising events is not the same as showing.
- Summary: “The character argues with their parents.”
- Showing: “The character raises their voice, interrupts, and storms out.”
- Saying “the writer shows” without explaining how
- Saying “the writer shows that…” is not enough.
- You must explain:
- what detail is used
- what it suggests
- what the reader understands without being told
