Show, don't tell: how to teach it with simple examples
Show, don't tell is advice every writing teacher gives. Instead of naming a feeling or a fact, describe what a reader would see, hear or feel that proves it.
Telling versus showing
Telling names it: She was scared. Showing makes the reader work it out: Her hands shook as she reached for the door handle. The second version feels more real because the reader notices the clue themselves.
More examples
- Telling: It was a hot day. Showing: The pavement burned through my sandals and the ice cream ran down my wrist.
- Telling: He was angry. Showing: He slammed the door so hard the picture on the wall rattled.
- Telling: The room was messy. Showing: Clothes covered the floor, and a cereal bowl balanced on the stack of books.
Simple exercises
- Pick a feeling card (nervous, proud, bored) and write two sentences that show it without using the word.
- Take a sentence from their own writing that says a feeling and rewrite it using what the character does or sees.
- Use the five senses: ask what the character sees, hears, smells, touches and tastes.
When telling is fine
Showing everything makes writing slow. Use telling for quick facts, and save showing for the moments that matter most.
A tip for feedback
When reading your child's writing, circle one sentence that tells and ask: what would we see if this were true? Let them rewrite just that sentence.
Common questions
What ages is this for?
Children can start from about 7 with simple examples, and it stays useful through secondary school.
Should every sentence show?
No. Show the important moments and tell the rest quickly.
Get feedback on your child's writing
LiteracyLab AI reads a child's own writing and gives specific feedback: what worked, one thing to try next, and a corrected version, matched to their year and curriculum. The Free plan includes 3 pieces a month and needs no card.