You’ve probably heard “show, don’t tell” a hundred times, but what does it really mean for your writing?
Are you supposed to delete and replace every emotion word or turn all your sentences into long descriptions?
Identifying the difference between showing and telling isn’t always easy. If you struggle to find telling in your writing, you aren’t alone.
But here’s a quick and easy way. I created this free checker to help you spot telling phrases so you can turn any flat passages into more vivid scenes.
Your Show, Don’t Tell Analysis Tool
Here’s how to identify telling sentences in your writing. All you need to do is paste up to 1,500 words of your writing into the scanner below and see where telling may be weakening your scene.
The tool highlights common emotion labels and summary phrases that often flatten a passage. In seconds, you’ll have a much better idea of how you can improve the showing in your writing.
Show, Don't Tell Scanner
Identify "Telling" signs and get "Show" suggestions to improve your writing.
The scanner looks for commonly overused emotion words and telling patterns.
It will flag areas that may benefit from stronger sensory detail or character action. You don’t need to change every highlighted word, but each one is worth considering.
But remember that telling is sometimes the most efficient approach, especially in fast-paced scenes.
When you want emotional impact, however, showing usually works better to draw your readers more deeply into your story. Use the tool to get helpful feedback, but it’s not a definitive guide or rulebook.
It’s ideal for identifying possible revisions that can turn flat sentences into descriptive moments.
If you want to check more than 1,500 words, simply hit the reset button and paste in another section of your text. There are no restrictions, so you can do this as often as you like.
How To Know If You’re Telling Instead Of Showing
Our Telling Detector Tool acts like a helpful developmental editor for your writing.
It identifies “telling” patterns that can weaken your writing and suggests ways to show action and emotion instead.
Getting Started:
Paste up to 1,500 words of a scene or chapter into the editor, then click “Analyze My Writing” to begin.
The tool will color-code your text, highlighting words or phrases that may be flattening your writing.
Scroll down to the Rewrite Suggestions box for tips on every flagged issue.
What The Scanner Highlights:
Emotion Naming (Red): Words like angry, sad, or jealous. Instead, describe physical reactions: trembling hands, a racing heart, or avoiding eye contact.
Narrative Distancing (Yellow): Filter words like saw, noticed, or realized. Rewrite these sentences to make the action more immediate.
Dialogue Tag Adverbs (Purple): Adverbs in dialogue tags, e.g., said angrily. Let dialogue and character actions show the tone instead.
Weak & Passive Verbs (Blue): “To be” verbs with adverbs, e.g., was walking slowly. Replace them with stronger verbs like trudged or sauntered.
Action Lag (Peach): Phrases like began to or started to are often unnecessary. “He ran” is more direct than “He began to run.”
Vague Language (Gray): Weak words like stuff, things, or many. Swap for specific details to strengthen imagery.
Pro tip: You don’t need to eliminate all “telling.” Some telling is useful for pacing or transitions. Use the scanner as a guide to see where adding “showing” can make your scenes more vivid and memorable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the “Show, Don’t Tell” rule in writing?
A: It’s a technique where you use actions, sensory details, and dialogue to convey emotion instead of summarizing it. Instead of saying a character is nervous, you show it through physical reactions or behavior.
Q: Is “telling” always bad in fiction?
A: No. Telling is useful for pacing, transitions, and summarizing time, while showing works best in emotional or high-stakes moments.
Q: How do I fix “filter words” in my manuscript?
A: Remove filter words like saw, heard, noticed, or felt and describe the experience directly. This pulls readers closer to the character’s point of view.
Q: Why does the scanner highlight adverbs in dialogue tags?
A: Adverbs like “he said angrily” tell the emotion instead of showing it. Strong dialogue or action beats usually convey tone more effectively.
Q: What is narrative distancing?
A: Narrative distancing happens when words like realized, remembered, or thought create space between the reader and the character. Removing them often makes the scene feel more immediate.
Q: How does the scanner help improve my writing?
A: It highlights overused emotion words, weak verbs, vague language, and telling patterns so you can revise for stronger imagery and impact.
Q: Can I use the tool for any type of writing?
A: Yes. It works for fiction, memoir, and narrative nonfiction or anywhere good storytelling matters.
Q: Are there limits to how often I can use it?
A: No. You can reset the tool and analyze new sections as often as you like.
Q: Do I need to remove every highlighted word?
A: No, not at all. Use the highlights as guidance and revise where showing will strengthen the scene the most.
Q: Why is showing usually stronger than telling?
A: Showing engages the senses and emotions, helping readers experience the story instead of simply reading a summary.
Summary
“Show, don’t tell” can feel tricky at first, but with a little practice, it’s one of the most powerful tools in your writing toolkit.
This free tool helps you spot telling phrases, overused emotion words, and weak verbs, giving you the chance to make your scenes more vivid and immersive.
Remember, you don’t need to remove every instance of telling. Just focus on the moments that will benefit most from showing.
Use the scanner as a guide, experiment with sensory details and action, and watch your writing come to life.
Ready to test your writing? Paste a scene into the checker above and see what you discover.
Related Reading: How Many Words In A Novel? Try Our Free Book Word Count By Genre Tool
