Finding the Right Words (or Struggling to): How to Write Stumbling Dialogue That Feels Real

Characters—whether humans, vampires, space travelers, or sorcerers—don’t always have the perfect words at the perfect time. Sometimes, emotions trip them up. Sometimes, uncertainty tangles their thoughts. And sometimes, let’s be honest, their brains short-circuit mid-sentence, leaving them grasping for coherence.

Stumbling dialogue isn’t just about throwing in a few "ums" or stammers—it’s about reflecting internal conflict, hesitation, or emotional overload in a way that feels natural. Whether your protagonist is lying through their teeth, caught off guard by an unexpected romance, or desperately trying (and failing) to smooth-talk their way out of trouble, here’s how to craft dialogue that feels authentic without losing readability.

1. Fragmented Sentences: Thoughts in Pieces

When emotions run high, speech patterns often break down. Fragmented sentences create a natural rhythm of uncertainty, mimicking the way people think when they’re overwhelmed.

 💬 "I—I didn’t mean to—I mean, it wasn’t supposed to happen like this."

This technique works beautifully in moments of shock, panic, or hesitation. It also adds urgency to the scene, making the dialogue feel raw and unpolished—exactly what you want when a character’s mind is racing faster than their ability to speak.

2. Ellipses and Em Dashes: The Art of Stammering Without Overloading

Ellipses (…) and em dashes (—) are excellent tools for showing hesitation without over-explaining it in narration.

 💬 "Well, I... I guess I could try, but—uh—I’m not sure it’ll work."

Ellipses convey a slow, uncertain pause, while em dashes hint at an interruption or abrupt shift in thought. Be careful not to overuse them, though—overloading dialogue with ellipses can make characters sound perpetually unsure, even when they should be confident.

3. Repetitions: Words That Get Stuck

Repeating words or phrases adds a sense of nervousness or emotional struggle to speech.

 💬 "I just—I don’t know, okay? I don’t know what to say."

This works well for characters who are flustered, defensive, or emotionally overwhelmed. It’s also a great way to show uncertainty in tense conversations, such as when a character is desperately trying to explain (or hide) something.

4. Filler Words: The "Uhs" and "Ums" of Hesitation

Real people don’t speak with perfect, polished dialogue. We pause. We hesitate. We throw in filler words when we need time to think.

 💬 "Um... well, I mean, you know, it’s kind of complicated."

Used sparingly, filler words add realism. Used excessively, they can make dialogue feel frustrating to read. The key is balance—place them where natural hesitation would occur, but don’t let them dominate speech patterns.

5. Interrupted Dialogue: Losing Your Train of Thought

Characters don’t always get the luxury of finishing their sentences. Sometimes, they cut themselves off mid-thought. Sometimes, another character interrupts.

 💬 "I was thinking we could—no, wait, uh—what was I saying?"

Interruption works well when you want to create chaotic or fast-paced exchanges, especially in arguments, nervous encounters, or moments of sudden realization.

6. Physical Cues: Dialogue Alone Isn’t Enough

Speech patterns tell part of the story—but pairing them with body language makes dialogue even stronger.

💬 "I—I just thought maybe, uh..." He rubbed his wrist, avoiding her eyes.
💬 "Oh. Oh, um, yeah, that makes sense. Nervous laugh. Definitely not suspicious at all."

When nervous ticks like fidgeting, foot-shuffling, lip-biting, or forced laughter accompany stumbling dialogue, the reader instantly understands what the character is feeling without needing extra exposition.

7. Internal Dialogue: Show the Mental Struggle

Dialogue shows what a character says—but internal thoughts reveal what they wish they could say (but can’t).

💬 Why couldn’t I just say it? It wasn’t that hard… Was it?

Note: Internal dialogue is typically written in italics without quotation marks, which helps distinguish it from spoken dialogue in the narrative.

Internal dialogue is especially useful when a character wants to speak but hesitates. It reveals personal conflict, deepens emotional weight, and reinforces the theme of struggling to find the right words.

Tailoring Stumbling Speech to Emotion

Not all hesitation is created equal! Different emotions influence how characters struggle with their words:

💀 Fear → Abrupt stops, clipped phrases, quick deflections.
💬 "Look, I—I didn’t see anything, okay? Just—just let me go."

❤️ Romantic tension → Overexplaining, nervous laughter, accidental word vomit.
💬 "Oh, this? This isn’t a date outfit. I mean, not that it wouldn’t be! I just—uh—forget it."

⚡ Excitement → Rapid-fire phrases, overlapping thoughts.
💬 "Okay, so hear me out—we break into the vault, steal the artifact, and—wait, no, bad idea, scratch that—let me start over."

By aligning dialogue patterns with emotion, stumbling speech feels intentional instead of clunky.

Final Thoughts: Stumbling Speech Should Feel Effortless

Writing hesitant dialogue isn’t about overloading conversations with ellipses, stammers, and filler words—it’s about choosing the right moments to let speech falter naturally. Whether your character is a stuttering hero, an anxious detective, or a star-crossed vampire hiding centuries of secrets, these techniques ensure their struggle to speak feels real—without frustrating the reader.

So go forth, make your characters nervously fumble through their words, and remember—sometimes, the best stories happen in the gaps between sentences.