show, don't tell

English

Alternative forms

• show don't tell

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃəʊ dəʊnt tɛl/

Proverb

show, don't tell

1. Advice to writers: convey an impression by the way that events are described in the narrative, and not by explicitly stating facts.
   • 1999, Kendall Haven, Write Right!: Creative Writing Using Storytelling Techniques, Bloomsbury, page 186:

     The second flaw is a flagrant violation of “show, don't tell.” Don't tell readers that she's sad and he's mad. Show the reader what they do. Worst of all, don't do both!

   • 2015 October 21, Dana Barbuto, “Review: Aaron Sorkin makes ‘Steve Jobs’ work”, in Northwest Herald‎^[1]:

     In “Steve Jobs,” Oscar-winning writer Aaron Sorkin “Sorkins” the hell out of an unconventional adaptation of Walter Isaacson’s best-selling biography by daring to break the cardinal rule of show don’t tell.

Translations

Advice

• Arabic: لا تفصح، بل أبد
• Dutch: toon, in plaats van te vertellen
• Esperanto: montru, ne rakontu
• French: montre, ne dis pas
• Galician: mostrar, non contar
• German: zeigen, nicht erzählen
• Italian: mostra, non raccontare
• Persian: نشان دهید، نگویید
• Russian: показывай, а не рассказывай (pokazyvaj, a ne rasskazyvaj)
• Spanish: mostrar, no contar

See also

• show and tell