body language writing examples

Cheat Sheets For Writing Body Language

What is body language and how do you use it when you write? Use these cheat sheets to help you with your body language descriptions.

What Is Body Language?

People react to situations with micro-expressions, hand gestures, and posture. Most of us are not even aware of them. However, what we do with our body language has a huge impact on other people and how they interpret and perceive us.

‘Even when they don’t express their thoughts verbally, most people constantly throw off clues to what they’re thinking and feeling. Non-verbal messages communicated through the sender’s body movements, facial expressions, vocal tone and volume, and other clues are collectively known as body language.’ ( Psychology Today )

Body language happens when we are doing something. We could be sitting, standing, or walking. We could be talking or thinking . Body language is often an involuntary reaction to something perceived by one of the five senses .

How To Use It In Writing

Using body language is one of the best ways to show and not tell when we write.

This is why we are always told to use body language in our writing. Sometimes, it’s easier said than written. So, I created these cheat sheets to help you show a character’s state of mind through their body language.

When you are completing your character biographies , be sure to include how your main characters move and talk. This is especially important for your protagonist , antagonist , confidant , and love interest . They are the characters that hold the story together and they should be as well-rounded and believable as possible.

The Top Five Tips For Using Body Language

Use body language to add depth to dialogue .
Use it because more than 50% of human communication is non-verbal.
Use it to show how your character’s emotions affect their actions.
Use it to help you show rather than tell your reader everything.
Use it in moderation. If overused, it can slow your story down.

TIP: Use our Character Creation Kit to create great characters for your stories.

Use this list to help you with your body language descriptions. It will help you to translate emotions and thoughts into written body language.

Obviously, a character may exhibit a number of these behaviours. For example, they may be shocked and angry, or shocked and happy.

Use these combinations as needed.

Use our Character Creation Kit to create great characters for your stories.

If you enjoyed this, read:

The 17 Most Popular Genres In Fiction – And Why They Matter
How To Write A One-Page Synopsis
123 Ideas For Character Flaws – A Writer’s Resource
The 7 Critical Elements Of A Great Book
All About Parts Of Speech
Punctuation For Beginners
5 Incredibly Simple Ways to Help Writers Show and Not Tell
5 Instances When You Need To Tell (And Not Show)
The 4 Main Characters As Literary Devices
106 Ways To Describe Sounds

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Top Tip : Find out more about our workbooks and online courses in our shop .

Body Language , Creating Characters , Show Don't Tell , Writing Tips from Amanda Patterson

53 thoughts on “Cheat Sheets For Writing Body Language”

Wow….that’s probably one of the most useful lists I’ve ever seen…thanks!

Very useful…simply superb. Will be handy for me when I sit down to write next time.

A mullion trillion thanks for this incredibly useful page of “show” instead of telling. Thank you xx

I would have liked to pin this on pint rest 🙁

This is the best of the “show” lists I have either made or found. Superb.

Love, love, love these! Thanks for compiling them. I’m going to share them and put them in a file to resource. Michelle Random Writing Rants

This is very useful.

Its really helpful….

great post really!!! thanks for sharing

This is one of the most helpful writer’s guide posts I have ever seen. It is so hard not to write “He looked at her in awe”, but think about the specific body language in that situation. It also helps think about the traits a character can have… Every person is different so one can even put individuality into the writing by giving certain characters characteristic emotional expressions.

Thank you so much for sharing this!!

Thank you, Kimberley.

I know I’ll be referring back to this list often. Thank you so much for sharing.

Thank you, Melissa.

Perhaps this is the best way to hone up the writing skills of one’s own and I should be very thankful to you for helping the writers through this .

This is dangerous if astute advice. Anything that aids progress writing is useful, but anything that aids progress stops you thinking – and it is only by thinking that he universe opens a portal and pours out something original.

Great information not only for writing but observation of these behaviors in action. As a school counselor I am interested in non-verbal cues from others.

Great work! high degree of observation! really impressed.

This is great. There is one word that comes up SO OFTEN that it is distracting to me as a reader and that is “gaze.” People are gazing at things, at each other, they’re gazing all over the place. One time I counted the number of times “gaze” was used in a book and found an instance of 5 times in 4 consecutive pages. But another book used “gaze” 5 times in 4 consecutive PARAGRAPHS. Why the editors don’t catch this is beyond me. My favorite “gaze” quote from a book is, “Her brown gaze settled upon the distant mountains.” That didn’t make me think of her brown eyes. My first thought was that she was seeing smog! Is it strange to say a color with “gaze”? I’ve also seen something like, “His blue gaze swung up.” (the man was driving at the time) It sounds strange to me, but maybe that’s just me. The book with the distant mountains sentence used “gaze” heavily from the second page all the way to the second to the last paragraph! It was painful to read. I got rid of the book.

Very helpful to have this all in one place! Thanks!!!

Thank you! This is great! 🙂

Thank you for this post. It’s very helpful.

This is a good list. But I believe we can always be a little more creative in mixing them up to denote various degrees and subtleties in an emotion.

Yes, Ayan. As it says in the post: ‘Obviously, a character may exhibit a number of these behaviours. For example, he may be shocked and angry, or shocked and happy. Use these combinations as needed.’

These cheat sheets are worth their weight in gold! Thank you for taking the time to put them together.

AWESOME! I was just speaking with a friend who mentioned I needed to do this a little more. Thank you so much.

such an amazingly helpful post! Thank you!

Thank you. We’re glad you find this useful.

Melody, Would have ditched that book too. That’s just bad writing.

Please send me any further articles you put out. This one is very helpful. It makes us aware of the use of each movement as a symbol of inner thought. Thanks

This is the most helpful article I have read about telling vs. Showing. Thank you.

Thank you, Wendy.

Thanks for this really usefull I find that I use the same emotions over and over.

Thank you! This is an excellent reference for a desirable result.

“Excellent list,” she said, rubbing her hands together and grinning. ; ) Thank you!

Thank you, Melissa! I love it!!

Excellent!!

I read this very useful and generous article on stumbleupon.com Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me!

Thank you for the positive feedback. I’m pleased that this helps.

Thank you for this :))

Thanks for the helpful post! Great resource for the scripts I’m co-writing.

Simply superb compilation ! No more adjectives.

Thank you! We’re glad that you find these lists helpful.

Very useful! Thank you so much!

What a succinct and useful list!

“Unfortunately,” (pause, lips pursed indicating deliberation and thought) “these are almost” (stress on final word, downward tilt of the head with slight inclination to the left as the speaker maintains gaze on listener indicating mock-serious intent) “entirely” (extra stress on this word, head lifts and turns full-on indicating intent) “cliché” (jaw firms, slight downward shift of the brow, eyes narrow indicating mild annoyance.) “Sorry” (head lifts, jaw pushes out, eyebrows raised indicating belligerence and complete lack of genuine apology).

quite informative, and precise. thanks.

i’m highly grateful to you, thanks a lot n million, may god bless you a long and happy life

This is so useful! Thank you, thank you very much!

OMG! I impressed to read it. Really, you are doing good job.

Very informative thanks!

I need something different for pleading. and it’s not on the list. Why is the emotion I want not almost never on the lists? xP (Arg)

Comments are closed.

Body language master list for writers

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“Show, don’t tell” is the first lesson of Fiction Writing 101, and one of the easiest and quickest fixes is to replace the emotional adverbs and adjectives with some body language.

For example, instead of “He said, sadly,” you could write, “He said with tears welling in his eyes.” Or, for a deep point of view, skip the “he said” and just write “Tears welled in his eyes” instead of a dialogue tag.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes when writing I get stumped. What body language goes, with, say, exasperation? So I Google it and spend half an hour going down a research rabbit hole. So I started assembling a cheat sheet I could refer to quickly, without getting distracted.

This is that cheat sheet.

Shaking fist Pointing finger Stabbing with finger Slamming fist on table Face flushed Veins throbbing in neck Jutting chin Clenched fist Clenched jaw Eyebrows lowered Eyes squinted Teeth bared Wide stance Tight-lipped smile Invading personal space Touching or rattling someone’s belongings or drink Rapid breathing Sweating Unwanted touching or flicking Moving one leg back into a fighting stance Invading personal space Flared nostrils Puffed chest Lowered, gravelly voice Insulting gestures Mock attacks Sudden movements Wide, exaggerated gestures Pursed lips Red face Slamming or punching things

Anticipation

Rubbing hands together Licking lips Unable to sit still Grinning

Throwing head back Slapping thighs Clapping hands Shaking with laughter Shaking head with a grin

Lips pressed together Eyes narrowed Rolling eyes Exasperated sigh

Fidgeting Twisting a ring Chewing on a pencil Biting lip Swallowing Quickened breathing Holding breath Eyes darting Sweating Clammy hands High-pitched laughter Hunched posture Pacing Stuttering Playing with hair

Attentiveness

Furrowed brow Leaning forward Sitting up Taking notes Mimicking body language

Jaw dropped Frozen in place Fixed gaze

Yawning Avoiding eye contact Tapping feet Twirling pen Doodling Fidgeting Slouching

Clasping arms behind body Lifting head Chest pushed out Standing tall Making firm and precise movements

Head tilted Narrowed eyes Furrowed brow Shrugging

Lifted chin Pursed lips Sneering Stretching Turning away Waving hand dismissively

Lips twisted Half-smile Shaking head Lips pressed together into a slight frown Rolling eyes

One-sided shoulder shrug Looking down Scratching nose, ear, or neck Feet kicking out Shuffling feet Sudden change in demeanor Hesitation in speech Shifting eye contact Long blinks Shrugging Inappropriate smiling or laughter Shaking head “no” while saying “yes” Licking lips Covering or touching mouth

Defensiveness

Crossing arms or legs Placing something in front of body Hands in pockets Holding hands palms up

Winking Looking up through eyelashes Glancing over shoulder Making eye contact Touching hair Touching clothing Straight back Thumbs in belt loops or pockets Dilated pupils Arching Stretching Women crossing and uncrossing legs

Eyes open wide Eyes narrowed Twisted mouth Crinkling nose Creased brow

Crinkling nose Curled lip Flinching Turning away Covering nose Gagging Eyes squinted shut

Displeasure

Fake smile Pouting Frowning Crossing arms

Rubbing neck Wide eyes Rapid breathing Hitting a wall Huddling in a corner Clasping hands over head Rocking Wringing hands Running hands through hair Adjusting cuffs Men holding hands in front of crotch

Chin up Chest out Shoulder back Hard handshake Leaning back with hands behind head and feet up Steady eye contact Hands on hips Straddling chair

Leaning forward Nodding Wide eyes Steady eye contact with raised eyebrows Hand on heart Double-handed handshake Feet pointed inwards

Embarrassment

Blushing Stammering Covering face with hands Bowing head Looking away Looking down Blinking back tears

Rubbing eyes Staring into space Yawning Stretching Nodding off and jerking awake Gritting teeth Closing eyes Moving slowly Slouching

Delayed reactions

Sweating Shaking Eyebrows raised and pulled together Wide eyes Mouth slightly open

Curling into fetal position Contorting face Slumping Covering face or head with hands, arms, or pillow Staring Shaking Sobbing Trembling Turning away Difficulty swallowing Drooping eyelids

Smiling Laughing Humming Crinkling eyes and nose Swinging arms Spinning Dancing Jumping Hugging Giggling

Shaking fists, hands twisted into claws Bared teeth Throbbing vein in neck Sweating, red face, tightness in skin of face Flared nostrils Scathing tone Shouting or screaming Turning away or leaving when the other person arrives, changing plans to avoid them

Maintaining eye contact Smiling with whole face Looking up Palms up Open arms

Nodding quickly Tapping fingers Sighing Checking the time Tapping feet Increasing voice pitch Looking away

Tight lips Sour expression Narrow eyes Crossed arms

Physical closeness to someone, leaning against each other, sitting together so legs touch Obsessively checking for messages, constant texting Doodling love interest’s name with a heart Improving appearance, dying hair, exercising more Affectionate touches, playful shoving Smiling at nothing, beaming, silly grid Using pet names, terms of endearment Listening to love songs

Overwhelmed

Palms to forehead Splayed fingers over eyes Staring into space with wide eyes Gripping something

Playfulness

Winking Waggling eyebrows Nudging Smiling Tickling

Head tilted back Slightly parting lips Eyes wide Eyes closed Slow, languorous movements Stretching Arching back Flushing Rapid breathing Fast pulse

Possessiveness

Handshake with arm clasp Hands around shoulders, neck, or waist Placing hands on a wall around someone Standing in their personal space angled towards them Running a knuckle down someone’s cheek Staring at people if they get too close

Shaky laughter Letting out a huge breath Looking up in silent prayer Raising hand for a high five

More at Writers Helping Writers and even more here by Kathy Steinemann .

Arms crossed Hands in fists Dragging feet Pinching nose Hands over ears

Droopy body Bowed body Wrapping arms around yourself Hesitating movements Bottom lip jutting out Quivering lip Crying Sobbing Shaking Dragging feet

Secretiveness

Tight-lipped smile Hands in pockets Looking away Covering face Looking down

Slumped shoulders Looking down and away Burying face in hands Bowed head Straight mouth

Hands over mouth Mouth open Gasping Freezing Staring with wide eyes Raised eyebrows Smacking palm against forehead Stepping back

Blushing Avoiding eye contact Keeping distance from others Backing away if others come too close Arms folded Head bent Hugging the walls

Slight close-lipped smile One raised eyebrow Slightly tucked chin Enigmatic smile Raised eyebrows Steepled fingers

Wide eyes Wrinkled forehead Slack or open jaw

Narrow eyes Glancing sideways Raised eyebrow Rubbing eyes Shaking head Blowing out cheeks Frowning Tightening lips

Thoughtfulness

Steepled fingers Pinching nose Closed eyes Tugging on ear Stroking beard Stroking chin Furrowing brow Narrow eyes Tilted head Lips pressed together Chin resting on hand Leaning back and looking up

Threatening

Shaking fist Pointing finger Stabbing with finger Slamming fist on table Face flushed Veins throbbing in neck Jutting chin Clenched fist Clenched jaw Eyebrows lowered Eyes squinted Teeth bared Wide stance Tight-lipped smile Invading personal space Rapid breathing Sweating Unwanted touching or flicking Moving one leg back into a fighting stance Invading personal space Flared nostrils Puffed chest Touching or rattling someone’s belongings or drink

Holding hands together above head Tilting back head and yelling Pumping fist in air Jumping Roaring Whooping

Other Resources

A couple of years ago, I bought a copy of a book titled The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression , part of the Writers Helping Writers series.

I would still prefer a print version, though, to keep it on my physical bookshelf for easier and faster access.

Another book that covers some of the same ground is The Writer’s Lexicon: Descriptions, Overused Words, and Taboos by Kathy Steinemann.

Do you have any other suggestions for how to convey emotion through action or body language? Let me know in the comments and I’ll add it to the list!

And if you want more writing advice, I do a weekly round-up of the best writing advice articles from all around the web . Check it out!

Edited by Charles Hand

Maria Korolov

MetaStellar editor and publisher Maria Korolov is a science fiction novelist , writing stories set in a future virtual world. And, during the day, she is an award-winning freelance technology journalist who covers artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and enterprise virtual reality . See her Amazon author page here and follow her on Twitter , Facebook , or LinkedIn . Email her at [email protected] . She is also the editor and publisher of Hypergrid Business , one of the top global sites covering virtual reality.

3 thoughts on “Body language master list for writers”

This is a great list. Thank you for sharing this. I did notice one type of emotion that could be helpful to have.

What would be some good options for a serious character? It becomes a bit repetitive to say that the characters are serious, especially if readers would already know this from what is being discussed.

I have thought of locking eyes, a narrowing of the eyes, leaning forwards and taking a deeper breath. Would there be any others you would recommend?

Depends on what you mean by serious. If you mean thoughtful, then you’ve got all the actions that does someone is thinking — taking off their glasses, looking up, furrowed brow, frowning, adding things up on their fingers, making notes, etc.. If you mean serious as opposed to playful, there’s frowning again, tapping your foot, etc… But if you want to show that someone is a serious person, just have them do hard things effectively.

This is wonderful, thank you!

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MASTER LIST of Gestures and Body Language!

Gestures and body language

matter a lot in fiction because nonverbal communication is so important. Gestures can help readers visualize a scene and get a feel for the characters. They can also set up lines of dialogue so you don’t have a string of he said, she said, he asked, etc., running down the page.

How to describe body language and gestures in writing may seem simple, but I find that when I’m in the middle of writing a scene, sometimes I draw a blank! It’s easy to wind up with characters who are nodding and shrugging all the time. Hopefully this list will help make writing body language easier.

Master List of Gestures and Body Language #master lists for writers free ebook #master lists for writers bryn donovan pdf #describing body language in writing #how to describe body language in writing #words to describe body language #NaNoWriMo #words to describe body language #words to describe gestures #writing body language

You might want to consider which gestures or what body language is typical for each of your characters. For instance, one of my characters in the novel I just finished tends to hug herself when she’s nervous, while another has a habit of rubbing at his shoulder when he’s uncomfortable. They only do it a few times each throughout the book, but I think details like that make characters feel more solid.

For a great guide to what body language means, I recommend What Every BODY Is Saying , by former FBI counterintelligence offer Joe Navarro and body language expert Marvin Karlins.

Some of the things in my list are not exactly body language or gestures, but are useful for dialogue tags. As with my list of facial expressions , I’ve included some different ways to say the same thing. There are some longer phrases and sentences, which you can obviously rewrite and adjust as you like, although you don’t have to.

Let me know if you have gestures or body language to add to this list!

Master List of Gestures and Body Language

he lowered his head she hung her head he ducked she bowed her head he covered his eyes with a hand she pressed her hands to her cheeks

she raised her chin he lifted his chin

her hands squeezed into fists his hands tightened into fists she clenched her fists she balled her fists he unclenched his fists her arms remained at her sides

he shrugged she gave a half shrug he lifted his shoulder in a half shrug she gave a dismissive wave of her hand

she raised a hand in greeting he waved

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she held up her hands he lifted his hands she held up her palms he threw his hands in the air she brushed her palms together he rubbed his hands together she made a steeple of her fingers he spread his hands they gesticulated he waved his hands she clapped her hands he snapped his fingers she held up a finger he pointed she gestured with a thumb he jerked his thumb toward… she extended her middle finger toward him he gave her the finger she gave him the thumbs up

she put her hands on her hips she shoved her hands in her pockets he jammed his hands in his front pockets she rested a hand on her hip she jutted out her hip

she folded her arms he crossed his arms over his chest she hugged herself he wrapped his arms around himself she rocked back and forth

she spread her arms wide he held out his arms she held out her hand they extended a hand

he shook his head she nodded he bobbed his head she tilted her head he cocked his head she inclined her head he jerked her head in the direction of… she turned her face away he looked away

his breaths quickened she panted she was breathing hard his chest rose and fell with rapid breaths she took in a deep breath he drew in a long breath she took in a sharp breath he gasped she held her breath he let out a harsh breath she exhaled he blew out his cheeks she huffed he sighed she snorted

she laughed he giggled she guffawed he chuckled she gave a bitter laugh he gave mirthless laugh she tittered he cackled

she rubbed her shoulder he kneaded his shoulder he rolled his shoulders she tensed her shoulders he massaged the back of his neck she rubbed her temples she rubbed her hands on her thighs

she ran her hand through her hair he threaded a hand through his hair he raked his fingers through his hair he shoved his hair back away from his face she toyed with a lock of hair she played with her hair she twirled her hair she wrapped a curl around her finger she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear she undid her ponytail and shook out her hair she tossed her hair he buried his hands in his hair he stroked his beard he scratched his beard

she tugged at her earlobe he bit a nail she chewed on a cuticle she picked at her nails she inspected her fingernails he plucked at the cuff of his shirt she picked a piece of lint from her sleeve he adjusted the lapels of his jacket she fiddled with her earring / bracelet he twisted the wedding ring on his finger she played with her cell phone he tugged at his shirt collar he adjusted his tie she smoothed down her skirt

she scratched her nose he scratched his head he rubbed his forehead she rubbed her eyes she pinched the bridge of her nose he held his nose

she slapped her forehead he smacked his forehead he facepalmed he slapped a hand over her mouth she covered her mouth with her hand she pressed her fingers to her lips he held his finger up to his lips he rubbed his chin

she pressed a hand to her throat he clutched his chest he leaned against the wall she bounced on her toes she jumped up and down he tapped his foot she stomped her foot

she folded her hands in her lap she drummed her fingers on the table he tapped his fingers on the table he slammed his hand on the table she pounded her fist on the table she set her palms down flat on the table he rested his hands on the table she set her hands on the table, palms up he leaned back in his chair she hooked her feet around the chair legs he gripped the arm of the chair she put her hands behind her head he put his feet on the desk they fidgeted she jiggled her foot he swung his leg she crossed her legs he uncrossed his legs she crossed her ankles in front of her she stretched out her legs in front of her he sprawled out he put his feet on the desk

she cringed he shuddered she flinched he shivered she trembled his body shook she cowered he shrank from… she huddled in the corner

she gestured with her coffee cup

they gesture with their pen

he pulled away she jerked away he turned away she jolted upright he stiffened she straightened he tensed he jumped she jumped to her feet he stood up she rose from her seat

she relaxed he hunched she slouched her shoulders sagged his shoulders slumped she wilted he went limp he rolled his shoulders she squared her shoulders

she clasped her hands behind her back he puffed out his chest she thrust out her chest

he propped his chin on his hand she rested her chin on her palm he yawned she stretched

he turned around she whirled around he pivoted she reeled

she stepped away she drew nearer he leaned closer she inched forward he loomed closer he paced she shifted from one foot to the other he swayed on his feet she dragged her feet

she pumped a fist he thrust his fists in the air she punched the air

A slightly expanded version of this list of body language and gestures appears in my book Master Lists for Writers: Thesauruses, Plots, Character Traits, Names, and More. Click on the cover to check it out!

Master Lists for Writers by Bryn Donovan #master lists for writers free pdf #master lists for writers free ebook #master lists for writers free kindle

Do you have thoughts or advice about how to use gestures or describe body language in writing? Let us know in the comments! Thanks so much for reading, and happy writing!

Dialogue Techniques: 50 Things Your Characters Can Do WHILE They Talk #how to write dialogue #writing dialogue #what are action tags #how to use action tags

How to Describe Body Language in Writing

The body can speak without uttering a word. In some real-life situations, body language is used to save lives or sign death penalties—i.e., a kidnapping victim can use facial expressions or hand gestures to signal to police or civilians that they’re in trouble.

In fiction writing, which is what we’ll be talking about in this post, body language has numerous uses, some of which the writer does not originally intend on when writing.

Body language is an effective non-verbal form of communication, and it adds depth and brings realism to a fictional story as the characters seem a little bit more alive when they use their bodies to communicate.

What Is Body Language?

Body language includes facial expressions, body posture, hand gestures, and other body cues that can be used to nonverbally communicate with other people.

These actions may be intentional or unplanned, but they have an impact on other people’s perceptions of us.

Body Language is Important, this is Why

So, why use body language?

We indeed talk a lot when trying to communicate with others but people mostly communicate using body language (like more than half of the time). When we are writing fiction, we use dialogue to insert breaks into the narration and body language is another great way of doing that. With body language, the characters aren’t just speaking, but they’re also revealing their personalities to the reader.

That adds a lot of depth to your fiction writing; the reader is shown—not told—how the characters show their emotions, and the body language reveals the characters’ distinct mannerisms.

Show, Don’t Tell!

The sacred rule of fiction writing—you’re allowed to be fluid, exercise some anarchy, or be divergent, but you CAN’T break this rule.

That’s a NO-NO. A cardinal sin!

Even with body language, you don’t have to tell the reader what’s happening; you have to show it! You have to get the reader into the story’s environment and give the precise feelings of the characters.

Almost impossible, right?

If you think that’s impossible, then you shouldn’t be a writer (at least not a fiction writer). You can only add depth using body language if you let the characters own those body cues, not the narrator.

I’ve written some words and phrases for you in a later section, jump to this section to see what words can be used to incorporate body language in your writing.

How to Use Body Language in Your Writing

1. facial expressions.

The face is the first body part when we think about communication. Even in real life, facial expressions are easier to read than other types of gestures and body cues (maybe that’s why “clowns at a kids’ party” is usually a good idea).

You can use facial expressions to show sadism, astonishment, anger, and a lot of other things.

2. Gestures

I know a lot of people that talk with their hands and sometimes they use their hands to do things without uttering a word. Characters are fashioned after real people so your readers would understand if your characters spoke using hand gestures.

One example would be when a villain uses a finger gun to tell a character that they were going to get killed.

The thing with hand gestures is that they can be interpreted differently in different cultural contexts. For example, you could use the middle finger in a certain cultural space and it wouldn’t have some vulgar implication.

Posture refers to the way our bodies are fixed when sitting or standing. Posture can also be used to show how a character behaves as himself as his bodily stances.

You can use posture to show the reader whether your character likes to sprawl or sit with legs crossed, assume a drooping posture, or stand tall.

Posture can be used to tell your readers a lot about your characters. For example, Straight posture indicates that you are interested in a conversation.

You can use implications like that to show one character’s reaction to another character’s speech or a group discussion.

A person might be saying something and the tone or pitch of their voice might be saying a completely different thing. That’s how important a person’s tone of voice is.

For instance, if a talkative person says “I’m happy” or “I’m okay” in a very slow, low pitch, they’re probably lying—they’re not okay and surely not happy.

You can change your characters’ tones to show the readers that the character’s mood has changed or that they’re hiding something.

5. Physical appearance

The way we look says a lot about us. Someone whose ‘house is in order’ is usually clean, clean-shaven, and looks smart. Bad times can be reflected in a character’s appearance.

Imagine seeing an ex-coworker, say an accountant, with a huge beard and in dirty clothes, would think that they are still employed?

So you can use physical appearances to show your readers what kind of characters are in your story. You can also use physical appearance to twist the narrative and unravel some truths at the end of the story—like a homeless person turning out to be an undercover rich guy.

You can use tattoos, pants sagging, hairstyles, facial hair to paint a picture of your character.

Touch can be used to show a lot of emotions and actions. You can use gestures that relate to touch to show aggression, tenderness, or other actions.

There’s so much information that a single touch can convey.

A soft continuous caressing of a lover’s hand or other body parts might indicate affection and set the mood for romance in some instances, and a punch in the face shows aggression and sets the mood for a fight.

Tips for Using Body Language

1. use it to strengthen dialogue/add depth.

I’ve already said that we speak more with our body than our mouth—more nonverbally than verbally. So if you hugely rely on dialogue to demonstrate how your characters communicate, you’re making your story less realistic (Not that it’s a must that a story should follow real-life patterns).

Body language helps you give your characters more depth and sets up a relatable, interactive feel for the readers.

In my other posts, I’ve also said using the simple ‘he said, she said’ dialogue tags is always effective . But… It’s also good to show who is speaking instead of telling your readers, and you can use body language to show how the character spoke.

You need to have a realistic balance between dialogue and description in your fiction writing.

2. Use It to Show Rather Than Tell

You may feel like I’m overstressing this point because I said it at the beginning of the post and in the first part of this section.

But it’s the sacred rule, and once you break it, you’re no longer a good writer. Simple!

So, always observe this rule.

3. Don’t Overexploit Body Language

If you use body language unconscionably, you will realize diminishing returns. Too much body language will slow your story down.

Everything has to advance your story, so you don’t need body language if it’s retarding the story’s development. Body language should be added to add something to the story, not take something from it, although it’s okay if you intentionally use body language to slow down your story.

4. Use Body Language to Connect Your Character’s Emotions with Their Actions

If you want your characters to be as realistic as possible, you have to show your reader that the characters’ emotions, thoughts, and actions are linked.

Body language has to correlate with the way your character acts or reacts to situations and set the reader for the impending actions.

Body Language Words and Phrases

Here are some of the phrases and words you can use to describe body language in your writing. These are just a few but a lot of them, and you can also make your own phrases.

Arms akimbo
A vicious yank
Arm curled around his waist
Bit her lip
Fast, shallow breathing
Clenched his dirty little fists
A deadpan expression
A lackluster smile
A toothy smile
Crossed his arms over his chest
Palm to palm handshake
Gritted his teeth
Fists shaking
Darting eyes
Blood rushing to head
Laid her chin in her palm
Fingers spread like claws
Tensed muscles
Eyes burned with hatred
Pursed her lips
Ambled away
He shivered
She cowered
Hunched over
Rubbing temples
She rubbed her forehead
Clenched jaw
Tall erect posture
Sketched a brief bow
He balled his fists
His body shook
She trembled
Swaggered into the hall
Blitzed into the room
Eyes flashed
He stroked his beard
He scratched his nose
He scratched his head
He tapped his fingers on the table

Books On Writing Body Language

I don’t think you can master the art of writing body language by reading a couple of blog posts or by using tips from other authors. There are books that can help you learn and become good at writing body language.

Here are some of them:

1. The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression

2. The Writer’s A-Z of Body Language Paperback

Final Words

Over the years, I have come to realize that to become a good writer, there are a lot of things that you have to learn and master. You don’t have to go to a special school, but you still have to learn aspects of writing that improve you as a writer.

Using body language to express emotions, reactions, and add depth is one such aspect that you have to master. If you separate yourself from the characters, it’s going to be harder to express or use body language. But if you put yourself into the character’s state of mind and try to behave like they would, figuring out how they’d use body language to react to things or communicate is going to be easy.

One thing you must do is let your characters speak, whether by acting out some scenes or using the personalities.

If you nail the body cues, your readers will instinctively understand the characters’ impressions and will be able to understand what’s going on without needing your narrations.

Easier shown than said.

Writing Body Language: Bringing Your Characters to Life

Body language is an essential part of bringing your characters to life, and yet, many writers struggle to find a balance between drawing no attention to the characters’ body language and obsessing over the way their characters move. If you don’t describe how your characters move in a scene, you’re missing out on a lot of opportunities to showcase their personality, while forcing them to move through emotional scenes like robots. Too much focus on body language, however, can come across as redundant, pointless, and boring.

If you struggle to convey realistic body language in your stories, don’t feel bad! Many other writers are in the same boat. With a little bit of help and direction, you’ll be adding subtle movements and gestures into your writing without even thinking about it in no time!

Why Body Language is Important in Writing

Nonverbal cues make up a large part of communication, so if you aren’t drawing attention to how your characters move and emote, your readers will be missing elements of what they’re communicating.

Not only that, but body language has many important uses in stories, such as:

Keeping dialogue interesting
Setting the tone of the scene
Conveying emotion
Hinting at hidden emotions, deception, and true feelings
Hinting at relationships between characters, such as tension, romantic feelings, or distrust
Illustrating parts of a character’s personality

Finally, body language is a key element of utilizing the technique “Show, Don’t Tell.” By using body language to indicate certain emotions, relations, and personality traits, you are allowing readers to make inferences about these things themselves. This can help to further invest readers into your story by making them feel like they are playing a part in deciphering what is going on. It is also much more fun to read than statements like “he felt angry” or “he looked at her sadly.”

If you want some guidance on how else you can use this technique, check out my other article Show, Don’t Tell: What It Is and How to Use It .

Using Body Language to Enhance Dialogue

It’s no secret that long stretches of dialogue and lengthy conversations often feel like they’re dragging on. When characters are talking for more than a few pages, it can start to get really tiring.

One of the ways you can combat this is by describing what the characters are doing as they are conversing with one another. If the conversation is tense, are your characters behaving nervously? Are they fidgeting? If they’re arguing, what are they doing with their hands? Are they gesturing wildly, or standing stiffly in one place?

Not only does this narration give readers a refreshing break from the dialogue, but it also gives the characters’ words more meaning. You can add context to the conversation by showing how the characters are feeling, moving, and emoting.

One of the easiest ways to seamlessly integrate body language into a dialogue-heavy scene is with action beats. If you want to know more about that, check out the article Action Beats: What They Are and How to Use Them .

How to Show Body Language for Different Emotions

Body language is one of the easiest ways to convey how a character is feeling, since different emotions can influence the ways a character moves and the gestures they use. Drawing attention to a character’s body language can be a subtle way of hinting at how they’re feeling.

It’s important to keep in mind that not everyone experiences or expresses emotions in exactly the same way. Keep your characters consistent, and always take their personality into account when writing their body language. For example, a particularly stoic character may not emote dramatically, while a nervous character could behave more exaggeratedly.

Keep in mind that this article is focusing mostly on body language . If you want to know how to write about facial expression, you should check out How to Describe Facial Expressions in Writing next.

Excited Body Language

Excitement can be an overwhelming emotion. Excited characters are likely to have an abundance of energy, and without a way to talk about their excitement, they may feel as if they are about to explode.

Remember that energy is the most important element of portraying excitement, so bring a little extra energy into everything the character does—whether that’s stirring soup or stocking shelves.

To show that your characters are excited, you could have them:

Gesture wildly
Talk a lot
Take up a lot of extra space in a scene, by gesturing wildly, being loud, or drawing a lot of attention
Bounce around
Cry happy tears
Laugh loudly
Be completely unable to sit still
Grab onto others, and even shake them around
Cross their arms or tuck their hands under their arms to control them
Place a hand on their chest
Clap their hands together
Cover their face with their hands or peek through their fingers
Randomly burst out giggling or laughing

If the character cannot properly contain or vent out their excitement, they can become restless, which results in fidgeting, speaking quickly or loudly, pacing around, and having trouble focusing. This is especially the case with children, who are often not emotionally mature enough to contain intense excitement.

Excitement may also turn into anxiety as whatever the character is excited about draws near, since they may fear it won’t go as planned or meet their expectations.

Happy Body Language

When a character is feeling happy, then they will be at peace with their surroundings, comfortable, and relaxed. There can also be a lot of overlap between happiness and excitement, however, so make sure you take that into consideration when determining how your character would be moving.

Being in a good mood can result in your character having more patience for situations they otherwise wouldn’t, and their body language will reflect that. A happy character is likely going to be calm and receptive, and they may smile often, maintain eye contact longer, and gesture animatedly as they speak. They are also far more likely to touch others, especially those they are comfortable around or care about.

To show that your character is feeling happy, you could have them:

Prop their head up on one arm and stare lovingly at something or someone
Touch another character on the shoulder
Laugh often
Playfully shove or swat at another character
Lock their hands behind their head
Whistle or hum
Skip, or walk with more bounce than usual
Sit cross-legged or in a relaxed position
Twist, bounce, or wiggle
Clasp their hands together
Lean back or settle in a relaxed position
Angle their body (or even lean) towards another character
Speak with a bubbly tone

Each character is going to have different behaviors, and those behaviors may change depending on the context. A naturally playful character will likely express joy more bombastically, while a more reserved character may only show small signs, such as a small smile and a relaxed posture.

Angry Body Language

Anger is one of the easiest emotions to identify with body language. Anger is powerful , and it can be hard to conceal, so it typically results in many telltale signs.

An angry character may:

Clench their fists
Lean towards other characters or intrude on others’ personal space
Bare their teeth
Widen their stance and stand tensely
Bang on tables
Throw things, or pretend to do so
Gesture aggressively, such as waving fists, imitating striking something, or stomping
Cry, though maintain an aggressive stance
Spit while they speak
Point or jab at other characters
Get red in the face

Anger makes people want to lash out, so in addition to behaviors like those listed above, you can weave aggressive gestures into everything the character does. If you’ve ever seen anyone aggressively buckle a seatbelt or angrily organize a stack of mail, then you know what I mean.

However, not every character is going to be willing to give in to their anger, and they may be more conscious of their own body language. Characters who want to control their anger will behave differently, though it should still be equally obvious to readers how the character is feeling. If a character is at work or otherwise in public, then they are much more likely to try to keep a lid on their anger.

When a character is trying to control their anger, they may:

Force a deadpan expression
Breathe slowly and deliberately
Stand tensely, without moving much or walking around
Speak in a low tone or keep their voice down
Stand straight up with their shoulders squared
Cross their arms
Rub their face, temples, neck, hands, or arms
Cover their mouth
Pretend not to care about whatever is making them angry
Take a walk

Angry body language is also very similar to tense or frustrated body language. A tense character may be more likely to freeze up or shut down, while a frustrated character will gradually get more aggressive if they cannot escape from what is frustrating them.

Nervous Body Language

It is usually easy to tell when a character is nervous because they will have a lot of restless energy to deal with—which often results in a lot of fidgeting. Nervousness is a precursor to fear, but it also has a lot in common with embarrassment.

Nervous characters are likely to:

Pick at things, such as their nails and lips or objects around them
Play with their hair
Tap on objects or other parts of their body
Chew on their lips or nails
Glance around the room and behind themselves
Move stiffly
Sway slightly as they stand
Tremble, both with their body and their voice
Avoid eye contact with others

Depending on what is making a character nervous, they might try to conceal their nerves. At a job interview or date, for example, a character is likely to try controlling their nerves by using a variety of coping mechanisms, such as focusing on their breathing, keeping their hands in their pockets, or talking constantly to avoid awkward silence.

While we’re on the topic of controlling nerves, have your nervous character also engage in self-soothing behaviors when they are nervous, such as:

Running a hand through their own hair
Rubbing the back of their neck
Humming quietly
Sighing or clearing their throat
Pinching the bridge of their nose
Rubbing their hands together
Wrapping their arms around their upper body (or around their knees, if they are seated)

These motions are always going to be specific to the character, so pick a few per character and try to keep them consistent whenever the character in question is feeling nervous.

Nervousness is about more than just body language. Check out How to Write a Nervous Character for more tips on writing about your character’s nerves.

Scared Body Language

When a character gets scared, the first thing that will happen is the “ fight or flight ” response will be triggered, causing a release of adrenaline. This causes dilated pupils, trembling, quickened heartbeat, fast breathing, and flushed skin. Characters will suddenly experience a rush of energy, and they may react to stimuli (such as noise or touch) quickly—or even violently.

This adrenaline response is instinctive, and it allows a person to protect themself when they are in danger, by giving them the energy to flee or fight off the threat. However, your characters are likely to get spooked in situations where a threat isn’t easily identifiable—or even present at all. Characters could be scared of another person, a concept, a specific animal, a loud noise, and any number of other things. Regardless, that adrenaline response is still going to impact them the same.

A character who is scared may:

Grab onto other characters or objects suddenly
Recoil, lean away, or retreat several steps
Cover their face with their hands
Wrap their arms around their torso
Hold their arms up as if to strike at something
Drift away from whatever is frightening them
Angle their body away, as if prepared to run at any moment
Flinch at the slightest noise, feeling, movement, etc
Chew on something, such as their own lips, nails, clothing, hair, etc
Shake or flap their hands around to “shake off” the adrenaline
Shrink themself away, drawing their limbs close to their body
Hide behind another character or object
Stare at something intensely
Avoid eye contact
Sweat profusely
Hyperventilate
Go pale or flushed
Speak quickly and repeat words, or not speak at all
Speak in a hushed, shrill, or raspy voice
Clench their jaw
Force a smile
Clutch their hands together tightly
Stumble or act clumsily

Another unfortunate consequence of adrenaline is nausea. This nausea will be worse the longer a character is frightened, and if they aren’t able to use their adrenaline, they will be left feeling shaky, sick to their stomach, and with a throbbing headache. It is not uncommon for someone to throw up as a result of being frightened.

Sad Body Language

Unlike many of the other emotions described above, sadness results in a lack of energy. Everything your character attempts to do will consume much more of their energy, and they may simply give up on simple tasks such as showering or making dinner.

Sadness is not the same as depression (depression isn’t an emotion, but a medical condition), but there is a lot of overlap between the two states—especially in regard to body language.

A character who is sad may:

Move much slower than usual
Curl up in a ball when seated
Have bad posture
Act lethargic
Snap at others or show signs of anger or frustration
Drag their feet as they walk
Have a slow reaction time
Keep their head angled downward and look at the ground
Zone out (stare off at nothing, with little to no awareness of what is going on around them)
Swallow more audibly and frequently
Cover their head, face, ears, or neck with their hands
Lay their head on a surface, like a table or wall
Hide their face in the crook of their elbow
Speak in a low, monotone voice
Wipe or rub at their eyes and face
Press their palms against their eyes
Let their hair hang in front of their face
Blink rapidly or look to the sky to keep tears from slipping out of their eyes
Breath slowly and deeply

Sadness can make everything seem much harder to do, and if your character is truly sad, they may not have the energy to even try to do anything. They are also likely to be more apathetic about everything, and not see the point of putting in the energy to shower, eat, or get enough rest. Characters who are experiencing intense sadness, grief, or depression may also self-harm or turn to substances like alcohol to cope.

If your characters are using alcohol to cope with sadness, then that is going to completely change the body language they display and the way you should write it. If you want help with that, you should check out How to Write a Drunk Character next.

Disgusted Body Language

Disgust, like fear, is an emotion that is driven by instinct. Humans experience disgust to keep them away from things that could infect them or make them sick in some way. Anything that is considered offensive (or potentially harmful) to any of the five senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, and sound) can elicit a disgusted reaction—for example, the smell of rotten food or the sound of something gooey being squished.

However, disgust can also be triggered by another character’s political ideas, hobbies, behaviors, or preferences. That also means that disgust can be influenced by culture, since certain foods or behaviors might be considered normal in one culture, but gross and unacceptable in another. Disgust, when directed at another person’s traits or behaviors, is more often described as “contempt,” but that emotion also comes with an inherent sense of superiority.

When a character is disgusted, the most important thing to keep in mind is that they will be doing whatever they can to get away from the thing that is disgusting them. A character experiencing disgust may also:

Recoil, or take several steps back
Cover their mouth with their hand
Squint their eyes
Feel nauseous
Flinch or recoil at being touched, or at feeling certain objects
Swallow hard and often
Gag or choke
Shake their head side-to-side
Stick out their tongue
Avoid being touched
Close their eyes
Hold their arms up by their torso or chest
Cover their nose, ears, eyes, etc
Move away from other characters and maintain a large radius of personal space

The context for the character’s disgusted reaction matters tremendously. A character reacting to a nasty smell is not going to behave in the same way as a character who is learning about their aunt’s strange weekend plans.

The Body Language of Attraction

Every romance writer wants to know how to amp up the chemistry between their characters, and subtly weaving body language cues throughout the text is one of the best ways to do that. By having each character indicate that they are attracted to each other with their behaviors long before a real romance begins to bud, your readers will be more likely to accept the relationship between the two characters.

When a character experiences attraction for another character, they will experience a sense of awe (that “oh my gosh, they’re beautiful ” moment). This is commonly associated with a warm feeling in the chest, an increased heart rate, and dilated eyes.

A character who is attracted to another character in the room is likely to:

Point their feet at the person they are interested in, instead of pointing them away or in separate directions
Tilt their head to the side
Maintain eye contact with the person they are interested in
Blink faster than normal (but not like a Disney Princess fluttering her eyelashes)
Face their whole body towards the person they are interested in, instead of pivoting or turning their head to look at them
Run their hand through their hair in a big, sweeping motion, or twirling with the ends of long hair
Mirror the body language of the person they are attracted to
Stand up straight and puff out their chest
Speak with a lighter, softer tone to their voice
Steal glances at the person they are attracted to (especially when the other person isn’t looking)
Look at the lips of the person they are attracted to
Lick their lips
Smile often
Push the boundaries of personal space
Straighten out their clothes, fix their hair, or otherwise attempt to keep their appearance in-check
Maintain an open posture, such as with their hands behind their back, their arms at their sides, or their hands on their hips

There’s a lot that goes into conveying good chemistry between characters. If you want some more specific instruction for writing about chemistry, attraction, and love, head over to Romance 101: How to Write Characters Falling in Love .

Body Language and Personality in Character Creation

When you’re creating a new character, you should take the time to consider how they move, and the ways they cope with their emotions. In fact, the way a character moves is just as important as the ways they look or behave. Giving a character distinct body language can take a well-designed character and bring them to life in your readers’ imaginations.

Body language is a powerful tool for creating distinct characters. Every person in the world has their own specific ways of reacting to different emotions and situations, and everyone has different behavioral quirks. By taking the time to consider a character’s personal body language and the ways they gesture and move, you are adding in another layer of individuality that makes them unique.

When designing a character’s body language, it can be helpful to make a list of the most common emotions. (You can even take inspiration from the table of contents for this article!) Under each emotion, write out just a few distinct behaviors for the character to utilize in situations where they would feel that emotion. For example, maybe a character will always clear their throat when they get nervous, or they have a habit of tugging at their earlobe when they are happy.

Those aren’t the only behaviors the character can use, but they should always be present whenever the character is feeling the emotion in question. This keeps them consistent and allows readers to pick up on how that character is feeling as they get more familiar with them.

Avoid Excessive Use of Characters’ Body Language

Although body language is important to include in your stories, you should be careful not to overdo it. Humans (and other humanoids, of course) move constantly , but that doesn’t mean you should draw attention to every micro-expression and subtle gesture they make. Only point out the behaviors that are relevant to the situation, or those that illustrate something about the character in question. If you overdo it, body language can really clutter up your scenes and add a lot of unnecessary length to your draft. Remember writers, there is such a thing as “too much of a good thing.”

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Writers in the Storm

A blog about writing.

A Look at Body Language in Writing

by Ellen Buikema

More than half of human communication consists of body language, which we use to communicate feelings, thought, and ideas without speech. Body language impacts other people’s perception and conveys our emotions far more than we think it does. Physical descriptions of what our characters are doing allows us to show-not-tell what is happening to them internally. It is one of the simplest ways to give the reader a feel for characters’ depth of mood and attitude.

Can you communicate well with others if you sit on your hands? I tried to and discovered that I don’t express myself as well. I’m a hand-gesturer. Plus, with COVID-19 upon us, I’ve realized how often I touch my face!

I also move around a lot, especially if I’m nervous. The first time I taught a classroom full of adults, I paced the entire time. Thinking back, I wonder if I made anyone dizzy.

Simple tasks require a surprising amount of movement.

Here’s a quick exercise that will give you a feel for how many movements you actually make. It will help you determine the balance needed between dialogue and description in your writing.

Choose an activity you commonly do at home or at work. It can be as small a task as sitting in a chair, working on the laptop, or other computer keyboard. Here are a few possible questions to get you started.

Where are your hands when not on the keyboard?
Are you leaning in, or away?
Do you cross your legs?
Crane your neck?
Arch your back?
Tap your finger on the mouse?
Use the dog as a footrest?
Lift the cat off the keyboard?
Roll your eyes?

Write out what you are physically doing, making a conscious effort to write all the steps you take. The first time I tried this I was shocked at how many little steps are involved in doing even simple tasks. Weave these descriptions into your manuscripts to help your characters come alive.

Other Body Language Recommendations

Showing Emotion

Make a list of the emotions your main characters exhibit along with the accompanying body language. Think about how your main characters move and react. How does your antagonist look when she is amused? What body language does your protagonist use when angered?

Avoid repetitive gestures.

Repeating gestures can be annoying. Certainly, it feels forced. Not every character should clench their fists or waggle their eyebrows. One character can habitually use the same gesture now and then, but not everyone. (Although thinking about a town full of people waggling their eyebrows makes me chuckle.)

Use vivid action verbs.

Choosing the right verb helps express the emotion you want to convey. For example, there are many ways to walk and each alternative verb implies an emotion. We can:

stride into a room
sashay down the boardwalk
lumber across the floor.

Each of the three verbs is a form of walking, all with different nuances. Each paints a distinct picture.

For dialogue tags, said is never wrong. Unfortunately, I find myself using smile, laugh, and nod. My current Work In Progress had a whole lot of nodding going on. After someone brought this to my attention, I did a "nod search" on my Word document and was appalled by the many cheerful yellow highlights.

Wise words from my editor about empty words and gestures. (Those are pauses between lines of dialogue that don’t advance a scene or characterize.) She said, “If you point something out by putting it down on the page, it needs a reason to be there. Your job during your editing phase is to second guess every image you put down on the page and make sure it’s clearly what you mean.”

Don’t overdo.

Too many descriptors make readers focus on the details instead of the feelings you want them to experience. Or worse, it gives readers a chance to trip on the details and get pulled out of the story. Meaningless details interrupt the flow.

As with all else in writing, put just enough body language in your prose to get your point across.

About Ellen

Author, speaker, and former teacher, Ellen L. Buikema has written non-fiction for parents and a series of chapter books for children with stories encouraging the development of empathy—sprinkling humor wherever possible. Her Work In Progress, The Hobo Code , is YA historical fiction.

Find her at http://ellenbuikema.com or on Amazon .

Image by Ri Butov from Pixabay

18 comments on “A Look at Body Language in Writing”

Such a great topic! I often find myself getting up and acting out a scene when I'm writing so I can know what the movements and sensations are! I also struggle with finding ways to convey body language that are concise and accessible, but not over-used. My characters always seem to shrug, nod, and raise their eyebrows LOL. Thank goodness for that "search" box that shows me how often they do that! On the other hand, sometimes those "standard" words are just fine because they get the job done without drawing attention to themselves. Being too creative can break the flow of the scene. Another aspect of our craft that requires a balancing act!

Being too "flowery" can definitely pull me out of the story I'm reading.

Acting out the scenes makes a big difference!

Smiling, shrugging, and nodding are on my hit list for my first editing pass.

Our eldest daughter's Freshman year English teacher gave her class a list of forbidden words. This made writing more difficult, but seriously improved her writing.

Hit list! The perfect term.

My characters smile all over the place as well. That find feature is humbling.

Excellent post. I find that my cozy characters roll their eyes and shrug, whereas my Gothic characters glance nervously and have racing hearts. And even nonverbal cues that might look the same--I'm thinking smiling and grinning--have different connotations depending on which word we use.

I love The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. It really gets me thinking about all the different ways we express our emotions and it's a treasure trove for writers who need new words to describe how a character is thinking or feeling.

Thanks for the great post!

And you have the second edition, right? They added 30÷ things!

The Emotion Thesaurus is a go to resource for me as well. It helps me get unstuck when I discover a repeated descriptions in my writing: batting eyelashes and hand on hip moments overplayed!

When we say, "show not tell" body language is definitely a HUGE part of that.

Absolutely. The show is all about body language.

Amy, thank you for your recommendation. I'll check out The Emotional Thesaurus.

It's interesting to note the different uses of body language in various genres. I'm glad you brought that up.

Sometimes, if I'm trying to vary action tags, I'll give characters an object, like a pencil, to tap, throw, or doodle with, depending on emotion. Or, they might be doing a task in a location but they'll be stomping around the room and talking or slamming drawers if angry. If sad or reflective, maybe they're sitting and twisting their coffee cup rather than drinking, etc. It's interesting to see how other authors do this.

I enjoy seeing how other writers use body language to express emotions. Reading other's work shows us different directions to go. Currently I'm reading a SciFi novel. The author did extensive research and wove that into her book. One of the characters has significant bodily damage and uses an exoskeleton, making for unusual body language.

Thanks, Ellen, great post. It made me think of my WIP and without even looking back at the ms I am sure I have overused "shrug." Something to look out for. Oh, well. I'll keep my eyes open on the next pass. All kidding aside, thanks again.

I'm glad the post is helpful, James! I think we all have our pet words. Thank goodness for word search, however ghastly cheerful.

Thank you for the examples of showing the emotions through body language. We convey emotion and thoughts subconsciously in real life and it makes sense for our readers to experience this in our writing. It makes me want to people watch for research!

People watching is ALWAYS fun.

I'm sure I do, I can't think of one off hand. I try to search for overuse words.

I did notice a friend using "shimmied her shoulders" in a book several times recently. It didn't fit the character. I don't think she was using the right word for the action she wanted. denise

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Cheat Sheet: Body Language and Gesture in Writing

What is body language and gesture.

As per Psychology Today , Body language is a silent orchestra, as people constantly give clues to what they’re thinking and feeling. Non-verbal messages including body movements, facial expressions, vocal tone and volume, and other signals are collectively known as body language.

Different micro-expressions, hand gestures, and postures made by the body are known as Body language and Gesture. While writing, this body language, and gesture help the reader to understand the emotions of a character and how to interpret and perceive them. Sometimes, you don’t need to write in words what your character is feeling. you can simply express it using body language and gestures without using any dialogues in the novel.

Why is it important to use body language and gestures in writing?

When it comes to writing fiction, the most important rule is to show and not tell . Body language and gestures help you to “ show ” better and let you avoid “ telling “.

Benefits of using Body language and gestures in your Writing

Body language adds depth to the dialogue of your story.
More than 50% of human communication is non-verbal.
It shows your character’s emotions affect their actions
Helps you show rather than tell your reader everything.

Everything should be done in moderation so don’t overuse it. Remember this point always.

Master List for Body Language and Gesture in Writing

When I first started writing fiction, I struggled to write different body language and gestures in my story. I made a list to help in my writing which will help you as well if you want to write better. This list will aid you to show emotions and thoughts word by using different descriptions for body language and gestures. A character can exhibit a number of different behaviors and emotions. They may be shocked and angry or shocked and happy. Use the write combinations as you need in your writing.

Use this list to help you with your body language descriptions. It will help you to translate emotions and thoughts into written body language. Obviously, a character may exhibit a number of these behaviors. For example, they may be shocked and angry, or shocked and happy. Use these combinations as needed.

Example of Body Language and Gesture By Emotions

Face flushed Veins throbbing in the neck Jutting chin Clenched fist Clenched jaw Eyebrows lowered Eyes squinted

Shaking fist Pointing finger Stabbing with finger Slamming fist on the table Teeth bared

Mock attacks Sudden movements Wide, exaggerated gestures Pursed lips Red face Slamming or punching things Wide stance Tight-lipped smile Invading personal space Touching or rattling someone’s belongings or drink Rapid breathing Sweating Unwanted touching or flicking Moving one leg back into a fighting stance Invading personal space Flared nostrils Puffed chest Lowered, gravelly voice Insulting gestures

Anticipation

Rubbing hands together

Unable to sit still Grinning Licking lips

Shaking with laughter

Throwing head back

Clapping hands Shaking his head with a grin

Slapping thighs

Shaking fist Pointing finger Stabbing with finger Slamming fist on the table Face flushed Veins throbbing in the neck Jutting chin Clenched fist Clenched jaw Eyebrows lowered Eyes squinted Teeth bared Wide stance Tight lips Flared nose

Lips pressed together Eyes narrowed Rolling eyes Exasperated sigh

Attentiveness

Furrowed brow Leaning forward Sitting up Taking notes Mimicking body language

Jaw dropped Frozen in place Fixed gaze

More examples of Body Language and Gesture

he lowered his head she hung her head he ducked she bowed her head

he shook his head she nodded he bobbed his head she tilted her head he cocked his head she inclined her head he jerked her head in the direction of… she turned her face away he looked away

he covered his eyes with a hand she pressed her hands to her cheeks

she raised her chin he lifted his chin

her hands squeezed into fists his hands tightened into fists she clenched her fists she balled her fists he unclenched his fists her arms remained at her sides

he shrugged she gave a half shrug he lifted his shoulder in a half shrug she gave a dismissive wave of her hand

she raised a hand in greeting he waved

she held up her hands he lifted his hands she held up her palms he threw his hands in the air she brushed her palms together he rubbed his hands together she made a steeple of her fingers he spread his hands she gesticulated he waved his hands she clapped her hands he snapped his fingers she held up a finger he pointed she gestured with a thumb he jerked his thumb toward… she extended her middle finger toward him he gave her the finger she gave him the thumbs up

she put her hands on her hips she shoved her hands in her pockets he jammed his hands in his front pockets she rested a hand on her hip she jutted out her hip

she folded her arms he crossed his arms over his chest she hugged herself he wrapped his arms around himself she rocked back and forth

she spread her arms wide he held out his arms she held out her hand he extended a hand

she laughed he giggled she guffawed he chuckled she gave a bitter laugh he gave mirthless laugh she tittered he cackled

she tugged at her earlobe he bit a nail she chewed on a cuticle she picked at her nails she inspected her fingernails he plucked at the cuff of his shirt she picked a piece of lint from her sleeve he adjusted the lapels of his jacket she fiddled with her earring/bracelet he twisted the wedding ring on his finger she played with her cell phone he tugged at his shirt collar he adjusted his tie she smoothed down her skirt

she scratched her nose he scratched his head he rubbed his forehead she rubbed her eyes she pinched the bridge of her nose he held his nose

she pressed a hand to her throat he clutched his chest he leaned against the wall she bounced on her toes she jumped up and down he tapped his foot she stomped her foot

she folded her hands in her lap she drummed her fingers on the table he tapped his fingers on the table he slammed his hand on the table she pounded her fist on the table she set her palms down flat on the table he rested his hands on the table she set her hands on the table, palms up he leaned back in his chair she hooked her feet around the chair legs he gripped the arm of the chair she put her hands behind her head he put his feet on the desk he fidgeted she jiggled her foot he swung his leg she crossed her legs he uncrossed his legs she crossed her ankles in front of her she stretched out her legs in front of her he sprawled out he put his feet on the desk

she rubbed her shoulder he kneaded his shoulder he rolled his shoulders she tensed her shoulders he massaged the back of his neck she rubbed her temples she rubbed her hands on her thighs

she cringed he shuddered she flinched he shivered she trembled his body shook she cowered he shrank from… she huddled in the corner

he pulled away she jerked away he turned away she jolted upright he stiffened she straightened he tensed he jumped she jumped to her feet he stood up she rose from her seat

she relaxed he hunched she slouched her shoulders sagged his shoulders slumped she wilted he went limp he rolled his shoulders she squared her shoulders

she clasped her hands behind her back he puffed out his chest she thrust out her chest

he propped his chin on his hand she rested her chin on her palm he yawned she stretched

he turned around she whirled around he pivoted she reeled

she stepped away she drew nearer he leaned closer she inched forward he loomed closer he paced she shifted from one foot to the other he swayed on his feet she dragged her feet

she pumped a fist he thrust his fists in the air she punched the air

Body Language

Beyond words – how to read unspoken signals.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

What Is Body Language?

Body language is the unspoken part of communication that we use to reveal our true feelings and to give our message more impact.

Communication is made up of so much more than words. Nonverbal cues such as tone of voice, gestures and posture all play their part.

A simple example of body language is a relaxed facial expression that breaks out into a genuine smile – with mouth upturned and eyes wrinkled. Equally, it can be a tilt of the head that shows you're thinking, an upright stance to convey interest, or hand and arm movements to demonstrate directions. It can also be taking care to avoid a defensive, arms-crossed posture, or restlessly tapping your feet.

When you can "read" signs like these, you can understand the complete message in what someone is telling you. You'll be more aware of people's reactions to what you say and do, too. And you'll be able to adjust your body language to appear more positive, engaging and approachable.

In this article and video, we explore body language some more, and look at how you can interpret it to understand and communicate with people more effectively.

We also have an infographic showing how to put this information about body language into practice.

The Science of Body Language

You've probably heard the statistic that only seven percent of a message is conveyed through words, and that the other 93 percent comes from nonverbal communication. This is often quoted out of context and is therefore misleading.

It's taken from Mehrabian's Communication Model , which states that body language is more important than tone of voice and choice of words when communicating true feelings. But Mehrabian makes clear that his study dealt only with communications involving emotions and attitudes. So, it's not applicable in all cases.

However, it does help to explain why it's so tough to gauge sentiment when we can't see people – on email or messaging apps, for example. It's also part of the reason for the rise in use of emojis , even in business communication.

How to Read Body Language

Being aware of body language in others means that you can pick up on unspoken emotions and reactions. It’s a valuable form of feedback, but it can easily be missed if you’re not aware of what to look out for.

So let’s explore the most important nonverbal clues – some with negative interpretations, and others that are positive signs.

Negative Body Language Examples

If someone’s exhibiting one or more of the following, negative behaviors, they'll likely be disengaged , disinterested or unhappy (see figure 1):

Arms folded in front of the body.
Minimal or tense facial expression.
Body turned away from you.
Eyes downcast, maintaining little contact.

You may encounter these behaviors when you’re dealing with colleagues who are upset, or dissatisfied customers .

Being aware of what these signals mean can help you to adjust what you say – and how you say it. You can show empathy for someone’s unhappiness, for example, explain yourself more clearly, or work to calm a heated situation .

If someone exhibits these signs during a negotiation, focus on engaging their interest and putting them at their ease. Then, if the negative behavior stops, you’ll know that they’re ready to negotiate with you effectively – and more open to persuasion .

Other types of body language can indicate that someone’s bored by what you’re saying. This might be in a presentation, a team meeting, or even a one-on-one chat.

Here are some of the most common signs of boredom (illustrated in figures 2–5, below):

Sitting slumped, with head downcast.
Gazing at something else, or into space.
Fidgeting, picking at clothes, or fiddling with pens and phones.
Writing or doodling.

You can re-engage people by asking them a direct question, or by inviting them to contribute an idea.

Additional signs of negative body language include:

Nail biting: suggesting insecurity or stress.
Locked ankles: also associated with anxious thoughts.
Rapid blinking: which may indicate uncertainty or concern.
Tapping/drumming fingers: often a mark of impatience or boredom.
Fidgeting: more evidence that someone’s disinterested or distracted.

Positive Body Language Examples

People also use their body language to convey positive feelings, such as trust , interest and happiness . Spotting these signs can reassure you that others are engaged with what you’re saying and at ease with the situation.

What’s more, by adopting these behaviors yourself, you can support your points, convey ideas more clearly, and avoid sending mixed messages.

Here are three specific ways to use positive body language to your advantage:

1. Body Language for a Good First Impression

Your nonverbal signs play a big part in people’s first impression of you. Here are ways to appear trustworthy , engaged , confident , and calm :

Have an open posture. Be relaxed, but don't slouch. Sit or stand upright and place your hands by your sides (see figure 6). Avoid standing with your hands on your hips, as this can communicate aggression or a desire to dominate (figure 7).
Use a firm handshake. But don't get carried away! You don't want it to become awkward, aggressive, or painful for the other person.
Maintain good eye contact. Try to hold the other person's gaze for a few seconds at a time. This will show them that you're sincere and engaged. But avoid turning it into a staring contest! (figure 8).
Avoid touching your face. If you do this while answering questions, it can be seen as a sign of dishonesty (figure 9). While this isn't always the case, you should still avoid fiddling with your hair or scratching your nose, so that you convey trustworthiness.
Smile! Warm, sincere smiles are attractive, reassuring – and infectious!

It's easy to miss some of the subtleties of body language. So, check out our Body Language Video for more advice on how to interpret and convey signals effectively.

2. Body Language for Effective Public Speaking

Positive body language can help you to engage people, mask any presentation nerves , and project confidence when you speak in public. Here are a few tips to help you do this:

Have a positive posture. Sit or stand upright, with your shoulders back and your arms unfolded by your sides or in front of you (see figure 10). Don't be tempted to put your hands in your pockets, or to slouch, as this will make you look disinterested.
Keep your head up. Your head should be upright and level (figure 11). Leaning too far forward or backward can make you look aggressive or arrogant.
Practice and perfect your posture. Stand in a relaxed manner, with your weight evenly distributed. Keep one foot slightly in front of the other to keep yourself steady (figure 12).
Use open hand gestures. Spread your hands apart, in front of you, with your palms facing slightly toward your audience. This indicates a willingness to communicate and share ideas (figure 13). Keep your upper arms close to your body. Take care to avoid overexpression, or people may focus more on your hands than your ideas.

If you notice your audience's concentration dip, lean slightly forward while you speak. This suggests that you're taking them into your confidence and will help to regain their attention.

3. Body Language for Interviews and Negotiations

Body language can also help you to stay calm in situations where emotions run high, such as a negotiation, performance review or interview. Follow these suggestions to defuse tension and show openness:

Use mirroring. If you can, subtly mirror the body language of the person you're talking to. This will make them feel more at ease and can build rapport . But don't copy their every gesture or you'll make them uncomfortable.
Relax your body. Maintain the appearance of calm by keeping your hands still and by breathing slowly.
Look interested. If you're asked a complex question, it's OK to briefly touch your cheek or stroke your chin. It shows you're reflecting on your answer (see figure 14).

Body language expert Amy Cuddy recommends striking a " power pose " for two minutes, in private, before a stressful situation. It tricks your body's hormone levels so you feel more confident and less stressed. Her mantra is, "Fake it till you become it." Mind Tools Club members and corporate licensees can read our full review of her book "Presence" here .

Virtual Body Language

You can apply much of the body language guidance above to video calls, too. You'll just have a little less space – and body – to work with! Here are some ways to show your enthusiasm, and to help make others feel comfortable and receptive to your ideas:

Get your camera set up right. This means you're close enough to show interest, but not too close to invade people's virtual space. Check that your camera is at eye level, so that your gaze appears natural to others. And leave room to gesture without hitting the screen!
Maintain eye contact. Look into the camera as if you're looking into someone's eyes. If it's a group call, looking around the participants will let you watch without staring.
Use facial expressions. Your face is front and center on a video call, so maintain a slight smile throughout. Raise your eyebrows to show engagement, and avoid frowning.

How Do You Use Your Body Language?

The tips given in this article are a good general guide for interpreting body language, but they won't apply to everyone.

For example, people may have a different cultural background from you, and positive gestures in one country can be negative in others.

So, reflect on how you use your body language, and avoid making assumptions. If you're getting mixed signs from someone, ask them what they're thinking. After all, interpreting body language should be a complement to talking and listening attentively, not a replacement for it.

Body language is a range of nonverbal signals that you can use to communicate your feelings and intentions. These include your posture, facial expressions, and hand gestures.

Your ability to understand and interpret other people's body language can help you to pick up on unspoken issues or feelings.

You can also use body language in a positive way to add strength to your own verbal messages – both in person and on screen. This is particularly important when you’re meeting people for the first time, speaking in public, or taking part in interviews or negotiations.

Infographic

See our animated Body Language infographic for top tips on communicating with non-verbal signals.

Photographs in this article © Mind Tools/Toby Phillips.

Body Language Project. (2013). The Most Common Body Language Gestures Associated With Liars [online]. Available here . [Accessed December 9, 2020].

Forbes. (2020). 8 Top Tips For Improving Your Body Language During Virtual Meetings. Available here . [Accessed December 9, 2020]

Healthline. (2020). A Beginner's Guide to Reading Body Language. Available here . [Accessed December 9, 2020]

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Assertiveness Meaning

Hello everybody 🙂, I just made a video about: Body Language, Assertiveness Meaning,.." That's great! If the video helps you to develop yourself If possible, please leave a comment to make new videos better https://youtu.be/vsm85GprTGQ

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Shakespeare on body language, clusters of nonverbal cues, an illusion of insight, body language in literature.

Robert Louis Stevenson on "Groans and Tears, Looks and Gestures"
Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
B.A., English, State University of New York

Body language is a type of nonverbal communication that relies on body movements (such as gestures, posture, and facial expressions) to convey messages .

Body language may be used consciously or unconsciously. It may accompany a verbal message or serve as a substitute for speech .

"Pamela listened dumbly, her posture informing him that she wouldn't be offering any counter-arguments, that whatever he wanted was okay: making amends with body language ." (Salman Rushdie, The Satanic Verses . Viking, 1988)
"The fun part is the process of, of getting to know a girl. It's like, it's like flirting in code. It's using body language and laughing at the right jokes and, and looking into her eyes and knowing she's still whispering to you, even when she's not saying a word. And that sense that if you can just touch her, just once, everything will be okay for both of you. That's how you can tell." (Iyari Limon as Potential Slayer Kennedy, "The Killer in Me." Buffy the Vampire Slayer , 2003)

"Speechless complainer, I will learn thy thought; In thy dumb action will I be as perfect As begging hermits in their holy prayers: Thou shalt not sigh, nor hold thy stumps to heaven, Nor wink, nor nod, nor kneel, nor make a sign, But I of these will wrest an alphabet And by still practice learn to know thy meaning." (William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus , Act III, Scene 2)

"[A] reason to pay close attention to body language is that it is often more believable than verbal communication. For example, you ask your mother, 'What's wrong?' She shrugs her shoulders, frowns, turns away from you, and mutters, 'Oh . . . nothing, I guess. I'm just fine.' You don't believe her words. You believe her dejected body language, and you press on to find out what's bothering her. "The key to nonverbal communication is congruence. Nonverbal cues usually occur in congruent clusters--groups of gestures and movements that have roughly the same meaning and agree with the meaning of the words that accompany them. In the example above, your mother's shrug, frown, and turning away are congruent among themselves. They could all mean 'I'm depressed' or 'I'm worried.' However, the nonverbal cues are not congruent with her words. As an astute listener, you recognize this incongruency as a signal to ask again and dig deeper." (Matthew McKay, Martha Davis, and Patrick Fanning, Messages: The Communication Skills Book , 3rd ed. New Harbinger, 2009)

"Most people think liars give themselves away by averting their eyes or making nervous gestures, and many law-enforcement officers have been trained to look for specific tics, like gazing upward in a certain manner. But in scientific experiments, people do a lousy job of spotting liars. Law-enforcement officers and other presumed experts are not consistently better at it than ordinary people even though they’re more confident in their abilities. "'There’s an illusion of insight that comes from looking at a person’s body,' says Nicholas Epley, a professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago. 'Body language speaks to us, but only in whispers.' . . . "'The common-sense notion that liars betray themselves through body language appears to be little more than a cultural fiction,' says Maria Hartwig, a psychologist at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Researchers have found that the best clues to deceit are verbal--liars tend to be less forthcoming and tell less compelling stories--but even these differences are usually too subtle to be discerned reliably." (John Tierney, "At Airports, a Misplaced Faith in Body Language." The New York Times , March 23, 2014)

"For the purpose of literary analysis, the terms 'non-verbal communication' and 'body language' refer to the forms of non-verbal behaviour exhibited by characters within the fictional situation. This behaviour can be either conscious or unconscious on the part of the fictional character; the character can use it with an intention to convey a message, or it can be unintentional; it can take place within or outside of an interaction; it can be accompanied by speech or independent of speech. From the perspective of a fictional receiver, it can be decoded correctly, incorrectly, or not at all." (Barbara Korte, Body Language in Literature . University of Toronto Press, 1997)

Robert Louis Stevenson on "Groans and Tears, Looks and Gestures"

"For life, though largely, is not entirely carried on by literature. We are subject to physical passions and contortions; the voice breaks and changes, and speaks by unconscious and winning inflections, we have legible countenances, like an open book; things that cannot be said look eloquently through the eyes; and the soul, not locked into the body as a dungeon, dwells ever on the threshold with appealing signals. Groans and tears, looks and gestures, a flush or a paleness, are often the most clear reporters of the heart, and speak more directly to the hearts of others. The message flies by these interpreters in the least space of time, and the misunderstanding is averted in the moment of its birth. To explain in words takes time and a just and patient hearing; and in the critical epochs of a close relation, patience and justice are not qualities on which we can rely. But the look or the gesture explains things in a breath; they tell their message without ambiguity ; unlike speech, they cannot stumble, by the way, on a reproach or an illusion that should steel your friend against the truth; and then they have a higher authority, for they are the direct expression of the heart, not yet transmitted through the unfaithful and sophisticating brain." (Robert Louis Stevenson, "Truth of Intercourse," 1879)

What Is Nonverbal Communication?
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The Writer's Voice in Literature and Rhetoric
Nonverbal Communication Activities
Paralinguistics (Paralanguage)
Monologues in Speech and Composition
Understanding and Using French Gestures
Frontal Lobes: Movement and Cognition
What Literature Can Teach Us
Pragmatics Gives Context to Language

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From 101 Creative Writing Exercises: Body Language

by Melissa Donovan | Aug 19, 2021 | Creative Writing Exercises | 0 comments

Take a peek at “Body Language” from 101 Creative Writing Exercises.

101 Creative Writing Exercises is a collection of creative writing exercises that takes writers on a journey through different forms and genres while providing writing techniques, practice, and inspiration.

Each exercise teaches a specific concept, and each chapter focuses on a different subject or form of writing: journaling, storytelling, fiction, poetry, article writing, and more. Every exercise is designed to be practical. In other words, you can use these exercises to launch projects that are destined for publication.

Today, I’d like to share one of my favorite exercises from the book. This is from “Chapter 4: Speak Up,” which focuses on dialogue and scripts. The exercise is called “Body Language.” Enjoy!

Body Language

Sometimes what people say without actually speaking tells us a whole lot more than what comes out of their mouths. Using body language to communicate is natural. We all understand it intuitively—some better than others.

The Exercise

Write a scene between two (or more) characters in which there is no dialogue but the characters are communicating with each other through body language. You can also write a nonfiction piece. Surely you have experienced nonverbal communication. Take that experience and describe it on the page.

Your scene can be a lead-in to two characters meeting or conversing. The scene should comprise at least two pages of non-dialogue interaction with two or more characters. Here are a few scene starters:

A cop, detective, or private investigator is tailing a suspect through a small town, a big city, a mall, amusement park, or other public area.
Strangers are always good for body language exercises. Think about where strangers are brought together: public transportation, classes, elevators, and formal meetings.
Kids in a classroom aren’t supposed to be speaking while a teacher is giving a lecture, but they always find ways to communicate.

Tips: What if one character misinterprets another character’s body language? That could lead to humor or disaster. Maybe the characters are supposed to be doing something else (like in a classroom where they’re supposed to be listening to the teacher) but instead, they’re making faces and gestures at each other. One helpful technique might be to go inside the characters’ heads, but don’t get too carried away with he thought and she wondered as these constructs are basically inner dialogue.

Variations: As an alternative, write a scene in which one character speaks and one doesn’t: an adult and a baby, a human and an animal.

Applications: There are depictions of nonverbal communication in almost all types of storytelling from journalism and biography to memoir and fiction.

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Body language writing guide - Part 1

Communication consists of 3 elements: words (what we say), tone (how we say it) and body language (the way we act). Depending on the circumstances and the topic that's being talked about up to 93% of our communication is done through body language and tone, while only 7% is done through the words we say. Body language consists of roughly 55% of how we convey what we mean, so it's very important to keep this in consideration when writing anything relating to a character, whether it's dialogue or just their general state of being, as it greatly helps the reader be immersed in the story.

In this guide I'll go through many of the elements you may wish to keep in consideration. I've split up this guide in 2 parts. The first is the big chunk of information regarding body language, when to use it, when not to use it and so on. In the second part I'll list ways we use body language and facial expressions so you have an easy reference sheet to pull from. But before you head to that page remember that not everybody uses the same body language movements, but more on that below.

Why use body language?

Action verbs, show it, don't tell it, too much detail, unknown body language, character-unique habits, our body language.

Besides the fact that up to 55% of our communication happens through body language another big reason to use body language in your writing is that it adds a whole lot of depth. Depth to the scene, depth to the emotions at play in that particular moment and depth to the characters. Some people have nervous ticks, some are terrible at disguising their true feelings, some have a great poker face and so on.

To illustrate the importance of body language here's a few example sentences: "He quickly ran across the bridge." "His eyes darted back and forth, he paused for a moment before scurrying across the bridge." "He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before sprinting across the bridge."

In each example somebody runs across a bridge, but only in the second and third do we get a feeling of what the character might be feeling. There's a feeling of nervousness in the second example, a feeling that something might happen, a feeling that perhaps the character might not make it to the end of that bridge or not without being spotted. In the third example there's also a feeling of nervousness, but it's a more controlled kind of nervousness. The third example comes across more as a person trying to race across that bridge in a personal record time or as somebody overcoming something and the bridge is the metaphor or personification of whatever the obstacle is.

Something else those previous three examples illustrate is using the right action verbs. As you probably already guessed or knew, action verbs are verbs that express physical and mental actions. Verbs like 'stand', 'think', 'run' and 'believe'. Picking the right verb helps convey specific actions and the emotions often associated with them. In the three examples I used 'run', 'scurry' and 'sprint'. They're all synonyms of each other, but scurrying is generally a more nervous way of running while sprinting is usually more associated with sports or just a faster running.

Many verbs will also change completely depending on the context. For example, rubbing your eye(s) could be a sign of annoyance, exhaustion, physical pain, hiding tears, actually having something in your eye and so on. Whether a verb can be interpreted multiple ways or not is no indication of whether it's a good or bad verb to use in a particular scene. If it conveys what the characters are feeling it's great, if not don't use it.

"Show, don't tell" is something many writers will have come across multiple times and for good reason. Showing the reader what happens helps the reader be immersed in the world and the feelings of the characters while telling will keep the reader at a distance. Both have their merits at times, but in most cases it's best to show rather than tell. The same goes for body language, perhaps especially so.

To illustrate the difference here are two example sentences: "Relieved, she sighed and relaxed, dropping onto her bed." "A deep sigh escaped her mouth as her entire body relaxed and she dropped herself onto her bed."

The first sentence tells what happens and as a result we feel more like a distant observer. The second example shows us how she's feeling and as a result we can easily envision a bored or exhausted character dropping onto her bed while at the same time being able to easily relate to how this character is feeling. Subconsciously you may even sigh and relax a little yourself, something the first example would rarely, if ever, accomplish.

Be wary of using too much details though. The more details you add the further away you get from what you're trying to accomplish. Too many details will cause your readers to focus on those details rather than on the feelings these details are supposed to convey. Like everything in writing you only write what's important to the scene and leave out all the non-essentials. Consider the following examples: "Her pupils dilated as her cheeks blushed a dark red. Her hands covered her face to just below her eyes as they avoided eye contact at all cost." "She blushed and covered her face with her hands, hiding behind them while avoiding eye contact."

The first example has way too much information and most of it is completely irrelevant. Skin blushed a dark red could just be "she blushed" or even "skin turned a dark red" (blushing and turning red are the same, so it's redundant to write both) and how far her hands covered her face is not important. Let's say eye contact needed to be made in that specific moment, you could just write "she looked up from her hands" or "she peeked between her fingers" instead of bothering with the exact position of her hands. This way the entire moment has a far bigger impact on the reader. The second sentence expresses everything in a way somebody can relate to perfectly. The moment isn't interrupted by meaningless details allowing us to immediately move onto the next part of the scene and thus we don't interrupt the way the reader is feeling.

One element in the previous example I purposely ignored is the dilation of pupils in the first sentence. Pupils will dilate for all sorts of reasons, but we often associate them with fear or surprise. In this particular example it could also be because she's attracted to whomever caused her to blush. This specific body language, like many others, isn't very well known among people in general, so it's best not to use it to avoid confusion. On a slightly unrelated note, our pupils tend to dilate when we're interested in something or somebody and contract when we're not. So if you see your friend's pupils contract or dilate at a seemingly random moment you'll know something either peaked their interest or bored them. You can even test it out by talking about something they love and then talking about something they dislike or hate. If your friend wants to trick you instead they'll simply think about dark places, people or things they find attractive or moments that get their adrenaline pumping and their pupils will dilate anyway.

So as you can see there are many situations during which pupils will dilate, the same goes for pretty much all of our body language. However, the vast majority are associated with only a specific few emotions and it's best to only use them for those moments to help convey these emotions. If you don't the reader will likely be left confused.

Body language is a great way of showing habits of characters, but make sure you don't overdo it. Your character might bite their nails when they're nervous or push their chest forward whenever they're around somebody they find attractive, but these habits don't have to be stated every single time they come up. If you repeat these habits too often they'll become annoying to the reader and they'll seem forced, which in turn makes the character seem unrealistic. Remember that characters can seem unrealistic even if everything they do is based on real life.

Perhaps a better example is smiling. We smile for all sorts of reasons and it's one of those emotions that creep up whenever you write what a character is doing. But if you write it too often the smiles can seem forced and fake even if they're genuine. If a character smiles all the time (or just a lot) it's better to just state that this is the case a few times rather than showing the character smiling every time they smile. The same goes for habits.

Habits are pretty much the only exception to the rule of not using unknown body language. In fact, you could create your own kind of body language for a character to make that character stand out more, but be careful as it's hard to pull it off well. A great example of this is "L" in the anime and manga "Death Note". Whenever he's thinking he often puts his thumb just under his top lip, which is something people usually don't do, but it quickly became a distinguishing character trait of L. Of course since this is done in a visual medium it's far easier to get away with it, but it can be done in writing as well.

If you want your character to have a unique habit it's usually best to base it on existing body language. L's "finger-lip-tuck" (scientific term, ahem..) closely resembles the "fist-under-chin" pose or the "finger-on-lips" pose whenever people are thinking. L's is just different enough to be unique and a little odd, matching his personality. This doesn't mean you can't have completely unique body language habits or ones that are contrary to what they usually express, but it'll require some more thought and testing to see if it actually works well. Also, don't feel like your (main) character(s) absolutely must have a unique habit, they don't. Everybody has specific mannerisms, but most are pretty much the same as everybody else's and for good reason too. Remember, up to 55% of our communication happens through body language. If we all had different mannerisms we wouldn't be able to communicate as well as we do.

Just as you shouldn't overdo habits so too should you not overdo the use of body language when writing a scene. It may seem like an obvious point, but it's worth mentioning nonetheless. Adding too much body language elements can interrupt the flow of the narrative just as other elements can, like using "said" too often. Like everything else in writing only write as much body language as is needed to get the point across. Anything that is unimportant or could be left out without changing the meaning of the scene or moment should be left out.

It's time to move onto the actual body language elements themselves. In part 2 you'll find lists of how we use body language for certain emotions, ranging from facial expressions to postures and anything in between. Hopefully these lists will serve as a handy guide when writing become tricky.

Body Language in Writing

Everyone uses body language in one way or another. Talking with a friend, in a business meeting, or at a ball game, the gestures, postures, and movements of our bodies and facial expressions are telltale signs of who we are, our mood, how we feel healthwise or about an issue, and what we think.

We form tightened lips, narrowed eyes, make fists, throw hands in the air, and shuffle our feet. We talk with our hands, cover our face, rake fingers through our hair, etc. We are human, and we are constantly expressive.

In real life, if more than fifty percent of non-verbal communication is through body language, then it goes to reason that when we write our protagonists and antagonists should do the same. How dull would a book be without noticing shifty eyes, crossed arms, or flared nostrils?

By using body language in writing, we are more likely to show and not tell, thus giving readers a more accurate picture of the character’s state of mind and the tension taking place. We draw the reader in when we use realistic and believable behaviors, just be sure to use them in moderation. Too many will slow your story down.

Example of overuse: Roy’s face reddened, lips tightened, his knuckles whitened in clenched fists, and he gritted his teeth when his boss gave the promotion to his partner. He stormed from the room and slammed the door, remembering the pistol in his brief case.

Better: Heat rushed into Roy’s face when his boss gave the promotion to his partner. He clenched his jaw to keep from saying too much and left the room. The door slammed behind him as his focus lands on the briefcase under his desk, housing a Glock.

Roy’s body language describes his attitude and mood. The tension thickened, and the stakes rose the moment a weapon was mentioned. Most readers can tell something bad is about to happen; thus, the suspense intensifies. Let them bask in the non-verbal clues the character reveals and keep them turning the page.

Using body language sounds simple, but it’s not as easily written. Here are a few more examples of suspicious, angry, or aggitated body language. We must avoid repetition of the same gestures in our writing to avoid losing the readers interest.

Crossed the arms Tightened lips Straddled a chair

Narrowed eyes Twisted lips Looked away

Jutted chin Clenched fists Lowered eyebrows

Crouched down Confrontational Rolled eyes

Darting glance Grimacing Shaking fist

Twitching trigger finger Lying Sneering or Smirk

Remember, use body language where it will pack a punch in the story and add depth to the character’s dialogue. Most importantly, keep the reader turning the page, or their body language will toss the book aside.

Loretta Eidson writes romantic suspense. She has won and been a finalist in several writing contests, including first place in romantic suspense in the Foundations Awards at the 2018 Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, a finalist in ACFW’s 2018 Genesis, was a finalist in the 2018 Fabulous Five, and a double finalist in the 2017 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence.

Loretta lives in North Mississippi with her husband Kenneth, a retired Memphis Police Captain. She loves salted caramel lava cake, dark chocolate, and caramel Frappuccinos.

Website: lorettaeidson.com

Facebok: loretta.eidson.7

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Nink: How To Write Body Language That Goes Deeper Than A Basic Shrug

It is widely believed that at least 50% of human communication is nonverbal. That means that if you rely on dialogue alone to convey character, emotion and behaviour, then the reader will only get half of the story. But how do you utilise body language successfully and in a way that is more compelling than a run-of-the-mill nod or shrug?

In this article, I will give you tips on how to approach body language to ensure it has purpose and meaning, and how to go deeper with your body language descriptions.

Find the significance of body language scene by scene Watch how humans interact. We’re always moving our bodies, either consciously or subconsciously. If you don’t describe enough body language in your writing, your characters can come across as wooden and unbelievable because this isn’t how people interact.

However, it would be a mistake to try and capture every gesture and twitch a character makes. That would soon become distracting for the reader.

So, when is it good to show body language and what purpose can it have? Let’s look at some examples:

Convey emotion – Using nonverbal emotional responses can have far more impact than verbal responses alone, and emotional reactions are a great way to build and reveal character.
Set the tone – Body language can convey tension and mood. If a character stands rigid and glowering when we first meet them, we can assume the situation they’re in isn’t great.
To break up dialogue – Stretches of dialogue can feel like floating heads having a conversation. Interjections of nonverbal description will break up the dialogue and bring the scene to life whilst enhancing the meaning of the dialogue.
Show character – Body language can help deepen characterisation. A lot can be inferred by the way someone moves and their facial expressions.
Add subtext – Subtle or unusual body language can hint at something deeper. This can be used to great effect, for example, in crime novels, when the reader is looking for clues to the identity of the guilty party.
Create movement – A scene lacking in any body language will feel static and unrealistic. Body language can breathe life into a scene.

Identifying why you’re choosing to add in a body language description can be a good way to determine how much description is suitable.

For example, if it’s a pivotal emotional scene, then it could have more impact to utilise a more evocative or detailed exploration of body language to convey the emotion a character is feeling. However, if you are punctuating quick-moving dialogue with movements, a lengthy pause to describe body language in detail may be unnecessary and can slow the pace.

Look at the context and what the purpose of the description is and focus on what adds to the story at that point in time, in terms of character, setting, or tone.

How to add depth to descriptions Whether we like it or not, we all have habits that characterise us. When I asked my now husband what his first impressions of me were, he said, “You move your hands a lot when you speak.” I’m not sure if this added to our attraction or not, but either way he married me! The notable thing is he noticed my nonverbal quirks.

And it’s not all about the limbs either. We have around 42 muscles in our face that help us to convey emotions. I favoured the one-eyebrow rise during school years; it was the best nonverbal way to get my “I’m not impressed” point across to annoying teenage boys during class!

What is the meaning behind the movement? I’d encourage you to think about how you and those around you use body language. Consider the nuances of the movements and what they mean. It’s not unusual to gesticulate when speaking, but some people do it when they are nervous, others when they are excited. Think about the meaning behind that movement, then how you can show it in more depth. Is there a slight tremble that is at odds with the seemingly confident movement in those hands?

And did I, in fact, save my most withering of one-eyebrow raises for the boys I secretly liked? Think about how you could show this with other nonverbal cues—a slight quirk upwards of the mouth, an unconscious hand to the hair.

Body language is open to interpretation and you can add depth to your description by identifying the meaning you want to convey. After all, each of us is unique, just like characters, which is why writing deeper body language will flow from getting to know your characters.

Let’s dig deeper Think about how your character would behave on an average day. How would they walk and gesture when they talk? What about their facial expressions? Now turn the dial up—because let’s be honest, no one wants to read about an average day! How would they express themselves on an awesome day? Would their body movements change? Would their facial expressions be more exaggerated?

Now let’s get mean and dial it right back down. How about a really bad day? Think of the range of emotions: fear, grief, anger, disappointment, and how they may express them in a nonverbal way.

If you complete this exercise for two or more characters and their reactions are the same, then their unique personalities are not yet coming through with their actions. There will be similarities in the way humans express emotions—tears for grief, smiling for happiness—but knowing your character as an individual will help to create nuances in how they express these emotions. Their body language should stem from their character. Return to who they are and build out their movements from there.

The signature “tell” Body language can be great at creating subtext by dropping clues for the reader and other characters to pick up on and interpret, or misinterpret. It can be fun to give a character a signature “tell” or a physical habit that holds greater meaning, whether they are aware of it or not.

Think of poker, where getting to understand other players’ “tells” can help you win or lose the game, depending on whether you read the tell correctly. Those tells are subtle, often unconscious movements, but in writing, they will have attention drawn to them because they will be described.

If you want to give your character a signature tell, it’s best to save it for scenes of stress and significance; otherwise it may be too obvious. And if you’re curious, look up poker tells for some inspiration of subtle movements and what they often mean.

How to avoid clichéd body language There is a fine line between a convention of a genre and a cliché, and this can also depend on personal preference. But anything that is overused, either in your own work or within your genre, can feel tired and clichéd. So how can you avoid this?

Check repetition Recognise if you use similar phrases, or types of signature tells, to describe body language book after book. Readers will notice if your heroine always bites her lip when nervous or characters always dip their chin to mean “yes.”

Be mindful of characters within a story displaying the same body language. This, again, suggests they are not unique characters, unless they are intentionally or subconsciously mirroring one another.

If you are repeating yourself, return to your characters and think about what body language is unique to them.

Balance is everything Too much emphasis on body language and overly detailed descriptions can be distracting. They can also slow the pace and be disconcerting—what’s with all the arms flailing about?! And if you give your character a really quirky habit, use it sparingly and for effect. You don’t want to pull the reader out of the story.

On the flip side, too little description and you end up with one-dimensional characters and the story feels flat. Achieving balance is important in bringing your characters to life and can really elevate your storytelling.

Utilising body language is an incredible tool for showing rather than telling, as well as for creating believable, well-rounded characters. If you want to deepen the way you express body language, start with your character. If you know your character how you know yourself, you can uncover the nuances of movements and reactions.

But understanding the significance of the movement in the context of the story is also very important. Sometimes you will want to show the subtle raise of the shoulders as a character lowers their eyes and hangs their head as the fight drains out of them. And other times, you may just need to tell the reader that they shrugged.

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Understanding Body Language and Facial Expressions

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Body language refers to the nonverbal signals that we use to communicate. These nonverbal signals make up a huge part of daily communication. In fact, body language may account for between 60% to 65% of all communication.

Examples of body language include facial expressions, eye gaze, gestures, posture, and body movements. In many cases, the things we don't say can convey volumes of information.

So, why is body language important? Body language can help us understand others and ourselves. It provides us with information about how people may be feeling in a given situation. We can also use body language to express emotions or intentions.

Facial expressions, gestures, and eye gaze are often identified as the three major types of body language, but other aspects such as posture and personal distance can also be used to convey information. Understanding body language is important, but it is also essential to pay attention to other cues such as context. In many cases, you should look at signals as a group rather than focus on a single action.

This article discusses the roles played by body language in communication, as well as body language examples and the meaning behind them—so you know what to look for when you're trying to interpret nonverbal actions.

Click Play to Learn How To Read Body Language

This video has been medically reviewed by David Susman, PhD .

Facial Expressions

Think for a moment about how much a person is able to convey with just a facial expression. A smile can indicate approval or happiness . A frown can signal disapproval or unhappiness.

In some cases, our facial expressions may reveal our true feelings about a particular situation. While you say that you are feeling fine, the look on your face may tell people otherwise.

Just a few examples of emotions that can be expressed via facial expressions include:

The expression on a person's face can even help determine if we trust or believe what the individual is saying.

There are many interesting findings about body language in psychology research. One study found that the most trustworthy facial expression involved a slight raise of the eyebrows and a slight smile. This expression, the researchers suggested, conveys both friendliness and confidence .

Facial expressions are also among the most universal forms of body language. The expressions used to convey fear, anger, sadness, and happiness are similar throughout the world.

Researcher Paul Ekman has found support for the universality of a variety of facial expressions tied to particular emotions including joy, anger, fear, surprise, and sadness.

Research even suggests that we make judgments about people's intelligence based upon their faces and expressions.

One study found that individuals who had narrower faces and more prominent noses were more likely to be perceived as intelligent. People with smiling, joyful expression were also judged as being more intelligent than those with angry expressions.

The eyes are frequently referred to as the "windows to the soul" since they are capable of revealing a great deal about what a person is feeling or thinking.

As you engage in conversation with another person, taking note of eye movements is a natural and important part of the communication process.

Some common things you may notice include whether people are making direct eye contact or averting their gaze, how much they are blinking, or if their pupils are dilated.

The best way to read someone's body language is to pay attention. Look out for any of the following eye signals.

When a person looks directly into your eyes while having a conversation, it indicates that they are interested and paying attention . However, prolonged eye contact can feel threatening.

On the other hand, breaking eye contact and frequently looking away might indicate that the person is distracted, uncomfortable, or trying to conceal his or her real feelings.

Blinking is natural, but you should also pay attention to whether a person is blinking too much or too little.

People often blink more rapidly when they are feeling distressed or uncomfortable. Infrequent blinking may indicate that a person is intentionally trying to control his or her eye movements.

For example, a poker player might blink less frequently because he is purposely trying to appear unexcited about the hand he was dealt.

Pupil size can be a very subtle nonverbal communication signal. While light levels in the environment control pupil dilation, sometimes emotions can also cause small changes in pupil size.

For example, you may have heard the phrase "bedroom eyes" used to describe the look someone gives when they are attracted to another person. Highly dilated eyes, for example, can indicate that a person is interested or even aroused.

Mouth expressions and movements can also be essential in reading body language. For example, chewing on the bottom lip may indicate that the individual is experiencing feelings of worry, fear, or insecurity.

Covering the mouth may be an effort to be polite if the person is yawning or coughing, but it may also be an attempt to cover up a frown of disapproval.

Smiling is perhaps one of the greatest body language signals, but smiles can also be interpreted in many ways.

A smile may be genuine, or it may be used to express false happiness, sarcasm, or even cynicism.

When evaluating body language, pay attention to the following mouth and lip signals:

Pursed lips. Tightening the lips might be an indicator of distaste, disapproval, or distrust.
Lip biting. People sometimes bite their lips when they are worried, anxious, or stressed.
Covering the mouth. When people want to hide an emotional reaction, they might cover their mouths in order to avoid displaying smiles or smirks.
Turned up or down. Slight changes in the mouth can also be subtle indicators of what a person is feeling. When the mouth is slightly turned up, it might mean that the person is feeling happy or optimistic . On the other hand, a slightly down-turned mouth can be an indicator of sadness, disapproval, or even an outright grimace.

Gestures can be some of the most direct and obvious body language signals. Waving, pointing, and using the fingers to indicate numerical amounts are all very common and easy to understand gestures.

Some gestures may be cultural , however, so giving a thumbs-up or a peace sign in another country might have a completely different meaning than it does in the United States.

The following examples are just a few common gestures and their possible meanings:

A clenched fist can indicate anger in some situations or solidarity in others.
A thumbs up and thumbs down are often used as gestures of approval and disapproval.
The "okay" gesture , made by touching together the thumb and index finger in a circle while extending the other three fingers can be used to mean "okay" or "all right." In some parts of Europe, however, the same signal is used to imply you are nothing. In some South American countries, the symbol is actually a vulgar gesture.
The V sign , created by lifting the index and middle finger and separating them to create a V-shape, means peace or victory in some countries. In the United Kingdom and Australia, the symbol takes on an offensive meaning when the back of the hand is facing outward.

The Arms and Legs

The arms and legs can also be useful in conveying nonverbal information. Crossing the arms can indicate defensiveness. Crossing legs away from another person may indicate dislike or discomfort with that individual.

Other subtle signals such as expanding the arms widely may be an attempt to seem larger or more commanding, while keeping the arms close to the body may be an effort to minimize oneself or withdraw from attention.

When you are evaluating body language, pay attention to some of the following signals that the arms and legs may convey:

Crossed arms might indicate that a person feels defensive, self-protective, or closed-off.
Standing with hands placed on the hips can be an indication that a person is ready and in control, or it can also possibly be a sign of aggressiveness .
Clasping the hands behind the back might indicate that a person is feeling bored, anxious, or even angry.
Rapidly tapping fingers or fidgeting can be a sign that a person is bored, impatient, or frustrated.
Crossed legs can indicate that a person is feeling closed-off or in need of privacy.

How we hold our bodies can also serve as an important part of body language.

The term posture refers to how we hold our bodies as well as the overall physical form of an individual.

Posture can convey a wealth of information about how a person is feeling as well as hints about personality characteristics, such as whether a person is confident, open, or submissive.

Sitting up straight, for example, may indicate that a person is focused and paying attention to what's going on. Sitting with the body hunched forward, on the other hand, can imply that the person is bored or indifferent.

When you are trying to read body language, try to notice some of the signals that a person's posture can send.

Open posture involves keeping the trunk of the body open and exposed. This type of posture indicates friendliness, openness, and willingness.
Closed posture involves hiding the trunk of the body often by hunching forward and keeping the arms and legs crossed. This type of posture can be an indicator of hostility, unfriendliness, and anxiety .

Personal Space

Have you ever heard someone refer to their need for personal space? Have you ever started to feel uncomfortable when someone stands just a little too close to you?

The term proxemics , coined by anthropologist Edward T. Hall, refers to the distance between people as they interact. Just as body movements and facial expressions can communicate a great deal of nonverbal information, so can the physical space between individuals.

Hall described four levels of social distance that occur in different situations.

Intimate Distance: 6 to 18 inches

This level of physical distance often indicates a closer relationship or greater comfort between individuals. It usually occurs during intimate contact such as hugging, whispering, or touching.

Personal Distance: 1.5 to 4 feet

Physical distance at this level usually occurs between people who are family members or close friends. The closer the people can comfortably stand while interacting can be an indicator of the level of intimacy in their relationship.

Social Distance: 4 to 12 feet.

This level of physical distance is often used with individuals who are acquaintances.

With someone you know fairly well, such as a co-worker you see several times a week, you might feel more comfortable interacting at a closer distance.

In cases where you do not know the other person well, such as a postal delivery driver you only see once a month, a distance of 10 to 12 feet may feel more comfortable.

Public Distance: 12 to 25 feet

Physical distance at this level is often used in public speaking situations. Talking in front of a class full of students or giving a presentation at work are good examples of such situations.

It is also important to note that the level of personal distance that individuals need to feel comfortable can vary from culture to culture.

One oft-cited example is the difference between people from Latin cultures and those from North America. People from Latin countries tend to feel more comfortable standing closer to one another as they interact, while those from North America need more personal distance.

Roles of Nonverbal Communication

Body language plays many roles in social interactions. It can help facilitate the following:

Earning trust : Engaging in eye contact, nodding your head while listening, and even unconsciously mirroring another person's body language are all signals that you and someone else are bonding.
Emphasizing a point : The tone of voice you use and the way you engage listeners with your hand and arm gestures, or by how you take up space, are all ways that affect how your message comes across.
Revealing truths : When someone's body language doesn't match what they're saying, we might intuitively pick up on the fact that they are withholding information, or perhaps not being honest about how they feel.
Tuning in to your own needs : Our own body language can reveal a lot about how we're feeling. For instance, are you in a slumped posture, clenching your jaw and/or pursing your lips? This may be a signal that the environment you're currently in is triggering you in some way. Your body might be telling you that you're feeling unsafe, stressed, or any number of emotions.

Remember, though, that your assumptions about what someone else's body language means may not always be accurate.

What does body language tell you about a person?

Body language can tell you when someone feels anxious, angry, excited, or any emotion. It may also suggest personality traits (i.e., whether someone is shy or outgoing). But, body language can be misleading. It is subject to a person's mood, energy level, and circumstances.

While in some cases, a lack of eye contact indicates untrustworthiness, for instance, it doesn't mean you automatically can't trust someone who isn't looking at you in the eyes. It could be they are distracted and thinking about something else. Or, again, it could be a cultural difference at play.

How to Improve Your Nonverbal Communication

The first step in improving your nonverbal communication is to pay attention. Try to see if you can pick up on other people's physical cues as well as your own.

Maybe when someone is telling you a story, you tend to look at the floor. In order to show them you're paying attention, you might try making eye contact instead, and even showing a slight smile, to show you're open and engaged.

What is good body language?

Good body language, also known as positive body language, should convey interest and enthusiasm. Some ways to do this include maintaining an upright and open posture, keeping good eye contact, smiling, and nodding while listening.

Using body language with intention is all about finding balance. For instance, when shaking someone's hand before a job interview, holding it somewhat firmly can signal professionalism. But, gripping it too aggressively might cause the other person pain or discomfort. Be sure to consider how other people might feel.

In addition, continue to develop emotional intelligence . The more in touch you are with how you feel, the easier it often is to sense how others are receiving you. You'll be able to tell when someone is open and receptive, or, on the other hand, if they are closed-off and need some space.

If we want to feel a certain way, we can use our body language to our advantage. For example, research found that people who maintained an upright seated posture while dealing with stress had higher levels of self-esteem and more positive moods compared to people who had slumped posture.

Of course, it's verbal and nonverbal communication—as well as the context of a situation—that often paints a full picture.

There isn't always a one-size-fits-all solution for what nonverbal cues are appropriate. However, by staying present and being respectful, you'll be well on your way to understanding how to use body language effectively.

A Word From Verywell

Understanding body language can go a long way toward helping you better communicate with others and interpreting what others might be trying to convey. While it may be tempting to pick apart signals one by one, it's important to look at these nonverbal signals in relation to verbal communication, other nonverbal signals, and the situation.

You can also learn more about how to improve your nonverbal communication to become better at letting people know what you are feeling—without even saying a word.

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Pease A, Pease B. The Definitive Book of Body Language. Orion Publishing Group; 2017.

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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Body Language for Writers: Your Ultimate Guide

46 Remarkable Comments

46 Comments

“Don’t tell me the entire apartment is under water.” Curly scratched his head. “I scuba dived only in the living room.”

You read the dialogue lines above, and you immediately know about the situation: Curly is confused.

And the reason you know exactly what’s up is, you guessed it, the fitting description of body language. Body language is added in just four tiny words. But those four words add a lot of depth to the scene!

Let’s say you wanted to give your entire scene a completely different meaning. All you would have to do is change that body language snippet. Just read the dialogue again, but this time replace the body language part with one of the following parts:

Curly shook his fist. (He is pissed at somebody and maybe threatening them.)

Curly sniffed back his snot. (He is devastated.)

Curly grinned and rolled his eyes. (He is a looney bin and a little destruction doesn’t faze him.)

Yes, that little description of physical movement is so powerful it gives your scene a completely different context. You describe a lot with very few words. But at the same time, you achieve much more:

The physical snippet makes you visualize the scene; it puts the graphic image of a wide-eyed guy with his fingertips in his hair into our heads.
It also brings some nice variation to your dialogue; it’s more interesting than a plain, boring dialogue tag (“ Curly said ” or “ Curly stuttered ”).
It reveals character and unstable emotion – you know you are dealing with a pretty whacky, entirely confused guy (with potentially wild hair, “ Curly” ).
And finally, it adds some physicality to your story, as opposed to just “blah, blah, blah” dialogue and scenic description. It makes for well-balanced speech.

All of this is the power of using body language.

In this post, read:

Which 4 other options besides body language you have to demonstrate dialogue
The worst mistake you can make with body language
How to get to perfectly fitting description of body language

And like always, oh esteemed reader, a tasty, tasty free download is on the menu. This time, it’s a 2-sheet-summary of this post; it will give you a quick overview of its most important points.

Print it out, and put it next to you on your desk, so you have it in front of you while you write. Or just store away safely in a drawer and forget about it:

Now raise your eyebrows and drop your jaw in delight, because here is my complete Body Language 101 , summarized by five quick tips that will help you with “puppeteering” your characters:

1. Use Body Language Only From Time to Time

Sneak your body expressions into the mix unobtrusively. Don’t forget that you have several other options to “tag” and break up your dialogue lines:

You could just leave the dialogue line standing alone (“Let’s go to the party then!”)
You could use a dialogue tag (“Let’s go to the party then,” Eleonora squeaked.)
You could describe what the characters are doing (“Let’s go to the party then!” Eleonora held the invitation out to him.)
You could describe what else is happening in the scene (“Let’s go to the party then!” Suddenly the doorbell rang.)
You could describe a facial expression, posture or movement of the character who is speaking and put it directly before or after his dialogue line, to let the reader connect the dots himself (“Let’s go to the party then!” Eleonora’s face lit up.)

Try to vary these options, so none of them gains the upper hand and becomes annoying. That way you will get a well-balanced and structured scene that pays equal attention to dialogue, characters and descriptions.

When you insert body language, always do it in passing and don’t give any extra weight to what you describe.

How to Use Body Language in Dialogue (5 Tricks)

Emotion: Angry

2. no explanation, just body language.

“So surely you can tell me where you were on the evening of the twenty-second of October?” George asked with eyes narrowed to slits because he felt very suspicious about Blake’s story.

This example does both, showing and telling. That’s one too many, and the too many one is the telling part! Cut out “ because he felt very suspicious about Blake’s story. ”

When you write like this, you also take your reader for stupid. Let her connect the dots herself – if she has followed the story, she will know why George’s eyes are pressed to slits.

Write it like this instead: “So surely you can tell me where you were on the evening of the twenty-second of October?” George asked with eyes narrowed to slits.

That’s much better, now we don’t even have to go inside George’s head artificially (“ George felt suspicious ”); we can just describe objectively what the reader sees. By laying out our dialogue and scene well, we can be certain she will know what’s up.

Conclusion: Whenever possible, don’t name the feeling, but just show the body language. And definitely never put both of them (body language and description of feeling) together in the same sentence.

3. Have a Very Clear Idea of What Your Character Is Feeling

“Randy held one hand in his other behind his back, then suddenly stroked his throat while he was leaning towards Linda.”

What’s happening here? Nobody knows, Randy’s behavior is too much. As far as we are aware, it doesn’t make any sense. It seems like the writer pays attention to the undertones so much, that in the end he is not really depicting anything but undertones…

Don’t write so cryptically that nobody can understand where your character is coming from. A single description of body language at a time is absolutely enough. You, the author, always have to be clear about what your characters are feeling. And the characters’ body language has to match their feelings.

Emotion: Overjoyed

4. follow your intuition when describing body language.

Your best bet is to take it from yourself . Imagine you feel flattered by an enormous compliment, like the best compliment ever . What expressions would your face, your arms, your body be making? Totally immerse yourself in the feeling like a good actor, and see how your body responds.

Remember the last time you felt really envious about somebody?

Use that memory to immerse yourself in the feeling for a second and ask yourself how your body would react. I bet you are super imaginative, so you can do it!

Reading a book about body language is also an excellent idea. The Definitive Book of Body Language by Allan and Barbara Pease is a very systematic and comprehensive guide to everything you ever wanted to know about body language. I recommend it whole-heartedly.

Emotion: Happy? (Different Rules for Aliens)

5. several types of body language you can use.

Facial expressions: The human face is an endless source of expressions. Think of raised eyebrows, tightly pressed lips, blown up cheeks, wrinkled noses, wide eyes, frowned brows, poked out tongues, widened nostrils… most feelings show through several features
Body postures: Crossed arms, legs wide apart, foot put forward, leaned back upper body, spread elbows, locked ankles, body pointing away, tilted head… all of these have something very distinctive to say
Body movements: Adjusting tie, nibbling on temple of glasses, tapping foot, raising hand with palm toward opposite, flicking hair, putting hands in pockets, grabbing the other’s upper arm, scratching one’s nose… do you know what all of these mean?

These are just some pointers. Try to come up with authentic, unique expressions you have noticed with yourself or with people around you.

And there you have it, 5 quick tips. Which means it’s…

Writing Prompts Time

“I will never again come to one of your parties,” Paul said angrily.

“What does this headline say about the Labour Party?” Annabelle asked curiously.

“You better not break your fingers when your drive in that nail,” Jill said in an amused tone of voice.

“Come on! Go, go, go, go, Aaaaaalbert!!” They cheered him on excitedly.

“That rain is a drag,” Ernesto said sadly.

“Thank you very much,” she said, visibly flattered.

Equipped with all of this knowledge, you now have an extremely elegant and effective way to describe what’s really happening under the surface of your dialogue. You can now go and fill your characters with overflowing emotions and life.

Once you manage to describe the body language of your figures accurately, they will automatically take on a life of their own: Your reader will feel like they were standing next to him in his living room.

And they will embrace them and love or loath them whole-heartedly…

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46 Remarkable Comments. Join in!

I came over here to your blog because I was looking for something for my character to think, feel, see after passing out on the lawn.

“Come on! Go, go, go, go, Aaaaaalbert!!” Elise and Brian ran along the sidelines till Albert’s wheelchair disappeared around the bend.

Hey Alice, I guess you mean this post: https://www.ridethepen.com/description-5-senses/

What you are describing is more action than body language. Try to think of what they look like when they cheer him on: Their facial features, their limbs, etc… Imagine you are cheering on your best friend; describing becomes pretty easy then!

Everything I thought about the last ten days seemed to be action. I must write a lot of action in my draft. I have to check that out when I get back from visiting my mother. I’m probably too late with a revised sentence but here goes.

“Come on! Go, go, go, go, Aaaaaalbert!!” Brian wrapped his arm around Elise as she raised her eyes toward heaven.

Greetings! I usually try to show emotion in my characters’ body language. I learned a lot from this post and even picked up a few extra pointers along the way. Thanks for this brilliant view into the body language of characters!

At your service! 😉

This was extremely helpful. I was so over he said, she sneered or they laughed, etc. I have used body language but you have given me a great tool to use it correctly and sparingly. I love reading all your helpful hints!

It’s Diane House…lol…I spelled my own name wrong!

Glad it helped, Diane. Just keep on using body language with these little hints in mind, and soon it will become second nature to you!

Hey Alex, Thanks for another great post. So helpful and full of good reminders as usual 🙂

Thanks, Anne! Enjoy!

AWESOME! Really?

From my Thesaurus: Awesome (as in “amazing”) adj. : inspiring awe or admiration or wonder; “New York is an amazing city”; “the Grand Canyon is an awe-inspiring sight”; “the awesome complexity of the universe”; “this sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath”- Melville; “Westminster Hall’s awing majesty, so vast, so high, so silent”

These 9 comments are QI – quire interesting – not AWESOME!!

Aren’t we writers? Can’t we calibrate simple language better than this?

“I will never again come to one of your parties,” Paul said angrily. This could be changed to: “I will never again come to one of your parties.” Paul’s face flushed.

One small note: In this example, So surely you can tell me where you were on the evening of the twenty-second of October?” George asked with eyes narrowed to slits. Why not just say , “George’s eyes narrowed to slits” and leave out the tag asked.

I like it. You would just have to make sure that the context tells us the flushed face comes from anger (and not, for example, embarrassment). The rest of the scene would hopefully make us understand that.

George example: Yes, you could definitely do it like that too. Your example sounds more elegant, but both are fine.

Ah, I like Paul. Playing with that character is fun.

Here are couple more:

“I will never again come to one of your parties,” Paul said with fists balled.

“I will never again come to one of your parties,” Paul hissed through clenched teeth.

Flouncing out of the room would be more action than body language. But it sure makes an interesting picture 🙂

Good old Paul…

Nice, Will, all of these make very clear and interesting examples.

Maybe I wouldn’t ask Paul again, if he’s going to make a scene. And I would say that with great determination. How I would look, I’ll leave to the imagination.

Right, that guy should throw his own party.

I steal inspiration from your FABULOUS analogies, Alex. Your point about SHOW, don’t tell is perfect for marketing. SHOW, don’t tell others how great you are. Even picked up reminders to vary facial expressions when public speaking. Not just gestures and body movements. Thanks for being a wealth of information. Dreaming of watching you repair overcooked body language during live demos on the Medium platform.:) ~Keri

Hey Keri! Ha, “telling a story” with your face when public speaking sounds like good advice. Us humans just love, love, love emotions…

I have no experience with public speaking, BUT my webinars will be coming soon to you guys. Watch out for them! 🙂

If Curly’s name indicates that he has curly hair, then surely we can guess what Randy is thinking as he leans in towards Lisa??!! ( https://www.thefreedictionary.com/randy ) Mind you, in Australia we probably wouldn’t assume that a guy called Curly has curly hair. It might even be more likely that he has dead straight hair (just as guys called Shorty tend to be really tall here). Or maybe the poor guy got a really bad perm 20 years ago that his mates will never let him forget? Info re body language is great. Thanks

Hi Pip! We will never know what motivated Curly’s parents. I guess we just have to take that fellow as he is. And yes, sometimes it’s not “nomen est omen.” Good writing!

I hate to be a party pooper, but the first sentence is punctuated incorrectly. Curly scratching his head is an action tag, not a dialogue tag, so the comma should be changed to a period.

“Come on! Go, go, go, go, Aaaaaalbert!!” Sheila cheered him on jumping and wildly waving her arms like a mad woman as he rolled his way across the finish line at the Paralympics last.

Sad, but well resolved, Pamela.

Here’s the rest of the scene:

Albert was grinning ear to ear. He finished the race. The girl he loved climbed the barricade rushing to him happy tears running down her face destroying her mascara yelling, “You did it, you did it! I knew you could!” Sheila threw her arms around him. The participation medal hung like gold as he puffed up his chest welcoming her embrace. He was first in her heart.

Happy end!!!

Much thanks for the post! I always pick up something new here. My take is always, we’re artists. Unlike mere painters, we have to entice the reader to see, feel, even taste what we do. Telling is fine for journalists. We paint with words.

Cheers to us and to enticing and seducing the reader!

“Never again,” Paul shouted, waving his fist in her face/banging the table/thrusting his face into hers. “Never again will I come to one of your parties.”

Thanks for a great post – as always.

Now that’s some anger and aggression there.

You are very welcome, Linda!

“Never again…” Paul was seething, “Will you see me at one of your damn parties.”

Perfectly fine; however, it’s not body language.

Showing… Telling… and dialogue… They all need to be worked together.

The following is an excerpt from my novel ‘SHARKNOSE’ – “Seeing that toyshop has just reminded me of something” (lrd.to/sharknose)

The scene takes place in a small bar in Milazzo – Sicily.

Two older men looked up as he approached their table. The elder of them raised his eyebrows in silent question.

Harris shook his head, “No… niente, signor Grappelli”.

The man answered him in thickly accented English, “Nothing,… Mister Harris? You are quite sure about that?”

Boyd nodded, “I’m certain,” he shrugged, “Look… I know the man.” he drew out a chair and sat down before continuing, “For a moment, I wondered… but it became clear… Woodward has found nothing.” He sipped at the ice cold beer, “The British customs stripped the car and searched it… If anything had been there, they’d have found it… They’d have arrested him… It seems like Vicario had either got rid of them, or had hidden them elsewhere… They weren’t in his car… at least, not by the time it got to Woodward… I don’t believe they were ever there at all.”

“Really, Signor Harris?” The man nodded thoughtfully, “I am not really surprised, my friend… Thank you for your help.”

They looked up as the door opened to admit two young women dressed in impractical heels, brief miniskirts and tops, cheap jewellery, and not much else. Boyd glanced at them. Somehow they didn’t look like tourists.

Grazzianu Grappelli continued, “It seems to be likely that Pontichello found them. He took the car just before he had Vicario eliminated… The fool signed it over in exchange for his miserable life… what is it you Inglesi say? His ‘pride and joy’, yes?” Boyd nodded. The old man smiled, “Yes, he gave away his pride and joy, hoping to live.” He spat out a bitter laugh, “Hah! A fat lot of good that did him, eh? but it would have given Pontichello enough time to search for them if they were hidden there, don’t you agree?”

CORRECTION: The extract above is from DEADWEIGHT – “In my book, that’s almost always murder”, (lrd.to/deadweight) not Sharknose. Sorry for the error (Boyd Harris appears in both novels)

Keep them coming, Chris!

“You better not break your fingers when your drive in that nail,” Jill said, eyebrows raised and smirk firmly in place.

I can see a blue thumb.

Paul tightened his grip on Tom’s throat. “I will never again come to one of your parties,” he shouted, flinging Tom’s lifeless body to the floor.

“Thank you very much,” she said, her cheeks suffused with a crimson glow, as the divested herself of her clothing.

Oh, this exercise is fun…I like it!

Perfectly fine and sounds like a fun story, Anne. However, you didn’t resolve the first line with body expression. The second one you did, and it worked really nicely.

Hi Alex, Here’s my take on, “Thank you very much,” she said.

“Thank you very much,” she said, lowering her head, trying to hide the flush that crept over her face.

I love it; it tells us a lot and blends in perfectly with the narrational flow.

Prompt: “That rain is a drag,” Ernesto said sadly.

Ernesto’s shoulders slumped as he stared out the window, a long sigh hissing through his teeth. “That rain is such a drag,” he murmured, pushing his fingers through his hair. I pressed my lips tight as he threw a weak punch to the windowsill. “Why today, of all days?”

Let me go get my anti-depressants real quick…

Hi Alex, A view from the other side. It’s a pleasure to read the ideas for improving writing that you develop even though, ultimately, I’m on the outside. I write non-fiction, for high school students and non-specialized general public, in Spanish. The body language ideas are very good, but I don’t have the freedom to “be so creative”, that freedom, in my case, is basically a danger. Greetings! José

Hola Jose, I understand, your writing has to stay within certain parameters, no creativity allowed. Maybe one day you will want to tip your toe into the pond that is creative writing.

Saludos a Chile!

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Body Language

Body language: using your body to communicate, how body language tells our story, whether we want it to or not..

Posted March 23, 2021 | Reviewed by Jessica Schrader

Interpreting and presenting body language has been difficult during the pandemic.
Body language can be both conscious and subconscious , with the potential to strengthen verbal messages or cause confusion.
Although body language can make interactions easier, it is only one part of communication and is not the only way to show who you are.

After a year of near-total virtual communication with just about everyone we know, we’ve adjusted to communicating differently, despite the many limitations of group chats, virtual meetings, and conference calls. One vitally important aspect of our communication that’s been missing over this year is interpreting and presenting body language.

Body language is an essential part of communication and can be just as important as our verbal exchanges. Often, it’s the nonverbal messages we send in our gestures, facial expressions, or posture that can cement or invalidate our words. Body language can be both conscious or subconscious actions, so it is important to make sure your body is sending the same messages as your words to ensure good communication. These nonverbal cues can strengthen the verbal messages you’re sending or it can lead to mistrust or confusion—signs of poor communication and misunderstanding. And let’s not underestimate the vital effects of pheromones to the limbic system which is cut off when we are virtual.

This is just one more way that the pandemic has hindered learning in children. By not allowing them to be physically present with people, they’re not able to interpret body language or pheromones in the ways they normally would. Body language is an important tool children use to learn and develop social skills.

In this way, body language can make interacting with others and expressing yourself much easier, but it can also introduce new challenges. Some nonverbal cues unintentionally communicate parts of ourselves that we don’t want others to know. For example, bad posture or fidgeting may communicate lack of confidence, something we may not intend for others to know about us. But body language can enhance our verbal messages and solidify what we are telling others. Facing someone with eye contact or taking notes while someone is speaking can communicate genuine interest. Without these cues, teachers may not be able to assess a student’s understanding.

When you’re speaking authentically, it’s natural for your body language to respond to your words through gestures or facial expressions. We also use gestures in conversations to tell stories or describe objects, often using hand signals to show how big or small something is. These are largely subconscious, naturally occurring forms of body language.

It can be difficult to communicate confidence in your actions when you may not feel it internally. When you display confident body language, such as good posture or eye-contact, even if you’re making a conscious effort, studies have shown that it can lead to feeling more confident. When speaking to others, practice controlling impulses to fidget and planting your feet confidently to increase self-esteem .

You can interpret a lot about someone from their body language, but it can’t tell you everything you need to know about someone. Behavior changes across social situations; what you show to some people, you may not feel comfortable showing to others. Some social situations may present circumstances for you to act outside of your norm and these instances obviously don’t represent who you are as a person. You can be more conscious of your body language and alter it to communicate different messages, but it isn’t the only way to show who you are. Personality is made up of so much more than just our body language, but knowing how to use it will make you better at communicating with others.

Toastmasters International. (2011). Gestures: Your Body Speaks, How to Become Skilled in Nonverbal Communication. Toastmasters International. https://web.mst.edu/~toast/docs/Gestures.pdf

Cuncic, A. (2020, May 29). 10 Ways to Have More Confident Body Language. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/ten-ways-to-have-more-confident-body-langu…

Puskar, M. (2019, July 17). The Role Of Body Language In Communication | Betterhelp. Betterhelp. https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/body-language/the-role-of-body-langua…

Segal, J., Smith, M., Robinson, L., & Boose, G. (2020, October). Nonverbal Communication and Body Language. HelpGuide.Org. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/nonverba…

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22 Body Language Examples And What They Show About People

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are 5 examples of body language?

Body language generally refers to nonverbal behavior that can convey information to others. Five examples of body language can include lip-biting, pursed lips, nodding, crossed arms, and an upright and open posture.

What are some common body language signals?

A person crossing their arms may indicate they may feel uncomfortable or angry. A person with a relaxed posture can show they feel calm and at ease.

What is disrespectful body language?

It can be important to remember that body language can vary across cultures. For example, in North America, a quick, firm handshake tends to be the norm. However, in Latin cultures, longer and warmer handshakes can be common. Meanwhile, in Turkey, a firm handshake is often considered rude or aggressive. As you can see, disrespectful body language may depend on the culture of the person with whom you’re interacting.

How do you show positive body language?

You may make a person feel uncomfortable if you don’t make a conscious effort with your body language. For example, if you’re on a date, you may feel nervous and cross your arms out of habit. However, a nonverbal cue like this may lead your date to think you’re angry. Instead, you might try keeping your body open and relaxed. You could also greet your date with a hug or shake hands with a firm handshake, as both of these body movements are generally examples of positive body language.

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13 Body Language Examples: Master Non-Verbal Communication

13 Body Language Examples: Understanding the Secrets

Last Updated on November 3, 2023 by Milton Campbell

Have you ever looked at someone and thought, “What is going through their head right now?”

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If only we could read minds. But the next best thing? Well, that’s body language.

Body language can tell us a lot about how a person is feeling, and even what they’re thinking. The key to understanding body language is to see the changes in it. Because when a person’s body language changes from one minute to the next, it shows that something has changed for them.

In this article, you will discover 13 body language examples to help you better understand nonverbal cues.

figure scratching his head showing an example of body language.

Why is Body Language So Important?

Body language is important because it is a silent way of communicating. It tells people what you are feeling without words. We use our body language every day without even realizing it. The way we sit, stand, walk, smile, laugh, and talk all tell other people how we feel and what we think.

We all know how rude it feels when someone rolls their eyes at us or crosses their arms while we are talking. Other people can tell how you feel by noticing the way you use your gestures. It is important to use good body language so that you do not make others feel uncomfortable or upset.

So why is body language so important?

Because it helps us communicate and understand what others are trying to say even if their words don’t match.

See Related: Master Communication Skills with These 15 Powerful Tips

Body Language Examples

Image of eyes for an example of body language.

Eye Contact

When you meet a new person, what catches your attention? Maybe you look them up and down for clues about their personality. Maybe you focus on their voice. But if you’re like most people, one of the first things you notice is their eyes.

Eye contact is a powerful form of nonverbal communication that can convey a variety of messages. From confidence to love to anger to attraction. It’s also an important part of body language. Your own, and other people’s.

How much do we rely on eye contact in communication? Studies have shown that if you omit eye contact when speaking aloud to someone, they are less likely to understand your words and more likely to perceive your message as insincere or unimportant.

We should make eye contact with people when we talk to them. Eye contact shows that you’re engaged and listening carefully. In other words, it conveys what would normally be conveyed by a nod or some other gesture. Not engaging with someone through eye contact can make the person feel like you don’t really care what they have to say.

But don’t hold someone’s gaze too long! Holding someone’s gaze for more than a few seconds at a time can feel intimidating and make the person being stared at uncomfortable—and also send a negative message about your intentions.

If you want to show interest in someone, try alternating brief periods of intense eye contact with breaks where you look away briefly before returning to their eyes. That way you’ll still convey engagement without getting awkward or making your target uncomfortable.

See Related: Eye contact is important (crucial really) in communication.

Eyebrow Raise

What does it mean when someone raises their eyebrows? Well, that varies, depending on the context. Still, there are some general rules:

If you’ve just said something astonishing or shocking and the person’s eyebrows shoot up, they’re probably surprised or shocked. If a person raises their eyebrows in a high arch, they’re likely annoyed or skeptical. As their eyebrows get closer together, their expression may be getting more serious. Brows raised and squished together can show anger or confusion.

An arched brow can also show interest (as if to say “Really?”) Or disbelief (as if to say “No way!”). Raised, relaxed brows can mean that someone is intrigued by what you have said. These are all examples of basic eyebrow-based communication, but there’s more! One very important thing to remember is that most people don’t do this sort of thing on purpose; it’s usually instinctive and unconscious.

A head nod is one of the most common body language signals, and it’s probably more powerful than you think.

You’ve likely heard people say someone “gave them the nod” to do something—that is, they were asking for permission to do something. But that’s not the only meaning a head nod can have.

For example, if you’re having a conversation with someone, and they are nodding along while you’re talking, it could be a sign that they’re interested in what you’re saying and like what they’re hearing.

Another way someone might nod their head is to show approval or affirmation. This can be during an interview when an interviewer nods to show that they agree with your answer.

Crossed Arms

Although people may hold their arms crossed in front of them because they’re cold or uncomfortable, or because they have back pain, the gesture is most often seen as a defensive maneuver that conveys uncertainty, insecurity, or even aggression.

Many studies have been done on the meaning of crossed arms, and although it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what the person crossing their arms is feeling or thinking, these are some of the most common associations.

Feet or Lower Body Facing Someone

When you’re in a group situation and people are mingling, it can be hard to tell who is the most influential person in the room.

The next time you’re with a group of people , and you want to figure out who the leader is, just look at their feet. If other peoples’ feet are pointing toward them, then they’re probably the ones that everyone looks up to.

This method works even if the leader isn’t speaking. You can tell that they are a leader because others are pointing their feet toward them and listening intently to what they have to say when they do talk.

So remember: if you want to know who’s in charge, just look at their feet!

Two people having a conversation with one person talking and the other leaning in.

Have you ever been chatting with a friend, and they start leaning in closer and closer?

You might be getting a little nervous. Are they trying to tell you something? Are they uncomfortable?

Don’t worry! If your pal is getting up close and personal, it just means they’re into what you’re saying. You could be talking about anything. From the best coffee in town to the new fitness center opening up down the street. But if they’re leaning in, it means that your friend is engaged in the conversation, and they want to know more. Just keep on talking!

A hair flip is a gesture that’s typically used by women to draw attention to themselves or to show they feel confident and at ease. It’s also often used to flirt, as it draws the viewer’s eyes to a woman’s face and hair, and can be seen as submissive behavior.

It can also be used to cover anxiety or unease. For example, people often use a hair flip when they’re nervous about something like a job interview , going on a date, or having an important conversation with their partner.

Blink with Head Pull

The blink-with-head-pull combination is one of the most difficult gestures to interpret in conversation. It could mean several things, depending on the situation in which it occurs:

1. I can’t believe you just said that.

2. I’m very skeptical that what you’re saying is true.

3. I’m thinking very hard about what you said, and I’m trying to decide whether it’s worth my time to respond to it.

4. I’m considering an argument against your statement, but I’m not quite sure how to frame it so that it doesn’t seem rude.

5. I don’t think we’re on the same wavelength right now, and I need time for my brain to catch up with you.

Angry-looking eyes showing negative body language.

Eyebrow Furl

When we furrow our brow, we’re telling others that we have something important on our minds and that we need to concentrate deeply to solve whatever problem is plaguing us. That is why you might see someone who is deeply engrossed in reading a book or watching TV furling their brows.

They are using this signal to communicate that they would like to be left alone or not interrupted since they are working hard to figure out what’s happening in the story.

People also use furled brows as a kind of question mark: when someone has asked us something unusual or doesn’t seem to understand something they’ve said, we tend to furl our brows. This communicates that we don’t quite get what they’re asking us or saying, and prompts them to rephrase the question or statement.

Looking Down Toward the Ground While Shaking Your Head

When someone looks down and shakes their head, especially when they’re being asked a question, there’s a good chance that person is having some sort of internal conflict.

This can be because they are trying to recall something (like the name of an actor) and are struggling to remember. Another reason could be that they feel guilt or shame about something and aren’t comfortable sharing it with you.

Jittery Hands or Feet

When someone has jittery hands during a conversation, it could mean a few things. It could mean that they’re nervous. It could mean that they’re excited and ready to jump in at any moment. Maybe it means that they’re so comfortable with you that they no longer feel like they need to keep their hands still.

A head tilt is a body language sign that can show various things depending on the context, but it’s generally thought to communicate curiosity, interest, want/lack of understanding, or some combination of these.

For example, if you’re talking to someone about a subject they find interesting, they may tilt their head a bit to show that they’re curious and sometimes, this can encourage you to continue the conversation.

On the other hand, if you’re talking to someone, and they tilt their head a bit during your conversation, it may show that they don’t understand what you’re saying. In this case, you may need to slow down your speech or talk more clearly.

In both cases, the head tilt is generally subtle. It may be just enough for you to notice it out of the corner of your eye.

Touching Face or Ears

If you’ve ever been sitting in a meeting and noticed that one person keeps touching their face, you might be wondering what it means. Is the person nervous? Confused? Feeling sick?

According to the body language experts at Harvard Business Review, all these things are possible. But there’s no one answer for why people touch their faces. The meaning behind it changes based on the situation you’re in, and the context clues around what else is going on.

For example, if someone touches their face when you ask them a question, it could mean that they’re processing what you’ve said and are about to answer. But if someone touches their face when you’ve just handed them paperwork or made a presentation, it could mean that they don’t understand what they’re reading, or are even bored by your information.

The key to reading this body language cue is to look at the context clues surrounding it. What else is going on? Does the person seem like they’re searching for an answer? Do they seem confused or disinterested? Do they appear to be thinking hard about something? What was happening right before they touched their face?

Accurate Interpretation and Self-Awareness

Recognizing incongruence between verbal and non-verbal cues is crucial for accurate interpretation. Sometimes, individuals may say one thing while their body language indicates something entirely different. Being able to identify these mixed signals enables us to better understand the true message being conveyed.

Building self-awareness is equally important. By assessing our own body language and identifying areas of improvement, we can become more effective communicators. Practicing active listening and observation skills allows us to better interpret others’ body language, enhancing our overall communication skills.

Wrapping Up Body Language Examples

During communication, body language is always going to play a factor. Body language is important in all forms of communication, as it often reflects the tone and intensity of your words.

Whether it’s giving a presentation in front of a group or interviewing for that dream job, knowing how to effectively use your body language is key to building rapport and getting the results you want.

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Cheat Sheets For Writing Body Language
( Psychology Today) Body language happens when we are doing something. We could be sitting, standing, or walking. We could be talking or thinking . Body language is often an involuntary reaction to something perceived by one of the five senses. How To Use It In Writing Using body language is one of the best ways to show and not tell when we write.
Body language master list for writers
"Show, don't tell" is the first lesson of Fiction Writing 101, and one of the easiest and quickest fixes is to replace the emotional adverbs and adjectives with some body language. For example, instead of "He said, sadly," you could write, "He said with tears welling in his eyes." Or, for a deep point of view, skip the "he said ...
MASTER LIST of Gestures and Body Language!
he swayed on his feet. she dragged her feet. she pumped a fist. he thrust his fists in the air. she punched the air. *. A slightly expanded version of this list of body language and gestures appears in my book Master Lists for Writers: Thesauruses, Plots, Character Traits, Names, and More.
How to Describe Body Language in Writing
Learn more The body can speak without uttering a word. In some real-life situations, body language is used to save lives or sign death penalties—i.e., a kidnapping victim can use facial expressions or hand gestures to signal to police or civilians that they're in trouble.
23 Essential Body Language Examples and Their Meanings
People tend to use the eyebrow flash in 3 main ways: The eyebrow flash can show interest professionally, as when giving approval, agreeing to something, thanking someone, or seeking confirmation. It's used as a nonverbal "yes" during conversation. The eyebrow flash can also show interest romantically.
Writing Body Language: Bringing Your Characters to Life
Keeping dialogue interesting Setting the tone of the scene Conveying emotion Hinting at hidden emotions, deception, and true feelings Hinting at relationships between characters, such as tension, romantic feelings, or distrust Illustrating parts of a character's personality
Effective Body Language in Writing
May 20, 2020 A Look at Body Language in Writing by Ellen Buikema More than half of human communication consists of body language, which we use to communicate feelings, thought, and ideas without speech. Body language impacts other people's perception and conveys our emotions far more than we think it does.
12 Examples of Body Language Descriptions by Great Authors
Touch - handshake, touch arm, hug, hand on shoulder, patting head, kiss Tone of voice - soft spoken, loud voice, monotone, fluctuations in pitch, whisper, shout, rapid-fire speech, slow deliberate speech, abrupt silence, drawn-out silence Check out this article to delver deeper into writing body language in fiction:
Cheat Sheet: Body Language and Gesture in Writing
Example of Body Language and Gesture By Emotions Aggression Face flushed Veins throbbing in the neck Jutting chin Clenched fist Clenched jaw Eyebrows lowered Eyes squinted Shaking fist
Body Language
A simple example of body language is a relaxed facial expression that breaks out into a genuine smile - with mouth upturned and eyes wrinkled. Equally, it can be a tilt of the head that shows you're thinking, an upright stance to convey interest, or hand and arm movements to demonstrate directions. ... Writing or doodling. Tip: You can re ...
Definition and Examples of Body Language
Updated on February 03, 2018. Body language is a type of nonverbal communication that relies on body movements (such as gestures, posture, and facial expressions) to convey messages . Body language may be used consciously or unconsciously. It may accompany a verbal message or serve as a substitute for speech .
From 101 Creative Writing Exercises: Body Language
Take a peek at "Body Language" from 101 Creative Writing Exercises. 101 Creative Writing Exercises is a collection of creative writing exercises that takes writers on a journey through different forms and genres while providing writing techniques, practice, and inspiration. Each exercise teaches a specific concept, and each chapter focuses ...
Body language writing guide
Body language writing guide - Part 1. Communication consists of 3 elements: words (what we say), tone (how we say it) and body language (the way we act). Depending on the circumstances and the topic that's being talked about up to 93% of our communication is done through body language and tone, while only 7% is done through the words we say.
Body Language in Writing
Here are a few more examples of suspicious, angry, or aggitated body language. We must avoid repetition of the same gestures in our writing to avoid losing the readers interest. Crossed the arms Tightened lips Straddled a chair Narrowed eyes Twisted lips Looked away Jutted chin Clenched fists Lowered eyebrows
Nink: How To Write Body Language That Goes Deeper Than A Basic Shrug
Let's look at some examples: Convey emotion - Using nonverbal emotional responses can have far more impact than verbal responses alone, and emotional reactions are a great way to build and reveal character. Set the tone - Body language can convey tension and mood.
How to Understand Body Language and Facial Expressions
Examples of body language include facial expressions, eye gaze, gestures, posture, and body movements. In many cases, the things we don't say can convey volumes of information. So, why is body language important? Body language can help us understand others and ourselves.
Body Language for Writers: Your Ultimate Guide
Curly shook his fist. (He is pissed at somebody and maybe threatening them.) Curly sniffed back his snot. (He is devastated.) Curly grinned and rolled his eyes. (He is a looney bin and a little destruction doesn't faze him.) Yes, that little description of physical movement is so powerful it gives your scene a completely different context.
Examples of Body Language: Recognize Nonverbal Cues
Updated March 15, 2021 Image Credits The term "body language" refers to the gestures a person's face or body gives as an aid to communication. These clues can be intentional or unintentional and positive or negative. Examples of Positive Body Language
Body Language: Using Your Body to Communicate
Body language is an essential part of communication and can be just as important as our verbal exchanges. Often, it's the nonverbal messages we send in our gestures, facial expressions, or ...
Describing body language A definition of body language
A definition of body language. Body language is communication by movement or position, particularly facial expressions, gestures and the relative positions of a speaker and listener. It may be the ...
22 Body Language Examples And What They Show About People
Medically reviewed by Arianna Williams, LPC, CCTP Updated October 18, 2023 by BetterHelp Editorial Team Body language can be thought of as a form of nonverbal vocabulary that uses expressions to emphasize or alter the meaning of the words we use. Gestures and nonverbal cues tend to be common in face-to-face communication.
13 Body Language Examples: Understanding the Secrets
Hair Flip. A hair flip is a gesture that's typically used by women to draw attention to themselves or to show they feel confident and at ease. It's also often used to flirt, as it draws the viewer's eyes to a woman's face and hair, and can be seen as submissive behavior. It can also be used to cover anxiety or unease.
Body Paragraphs: How to Write Perfect Ones
Powerful language like this might be too climactic for the supporting sentences, but in a conclusion, it fits perfectly. How to write a body paragraph. First and foremost, double-check that your body paragraph supports the main thesis of the entire piece, much like the paragraph's supporting sentences support the topic sentence.

Cheat Sheets For Writing Body Language

What Is Body Language?

How To Use It In Writing

The Top Five Tips For Using Body Language

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Body language master list for writers

Anticipation

Attentiveness

Defensiveness

Displeasure

Embarrassment

Overwhelmed

Playfulness

Possessiveness

Secretiveness

Thoughtfulness

Threatening

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Edited by Charles Hand

Maria Korolov

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