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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

show, don't tell en · X

Pronunciation

  • /ʃəʊ dəʊnt tɛl/

Meanings

  1. Advice to writers: convey an impression by the way that events are described in the narrative, and not by explicitly stating facts.
    • 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! 1999, Kendall Haven, Write Right!: Creative Writing Using Storytelling Techniques, Bloomsbury, page 186:
    • 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. 2015 October 21, Dana Barbuto, “Review: Aaron Sorkin makes ‘Steve Jobs’ work”, in Northwest Herald:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
show don't tell alternative lexicographic

Relateds

telly · show and tell · showy

Translations (10)

ar لا تفصح، بل أبد (advice) · nl toon, in plaats van te vertellen (advice) · es mostrar, no contar (advice) · de zeigen, nicht erzählen (advice) · fr montre, ne dis pas (advice) · gl mostrar, non contar (advice) · eo montru, ne rakontu (advice) · fa نشان دهید، نگویید (advice) · ru показывай, а не рассказывай (advice) · it mostra, non raccontare (advice)

wikipedia: show, don't tell