Dialogue can make or break a novel. Unlike everyday speech, in a book every word, every phrase, every sentence counts. Don't waste precious dialogue words on phrases like How are you? unless there's a really good reason. Use dialogue to move your story. If someone says something, make sure it means something. Dialogue can be a vehicle to express emotion, sneak in bits of backstory, reflect the speakers' background or upbringing. So, if your character has not graduated from college, don't let that person spout fancy words with many syllables, and vice versa. Lots of discussion goes on about the use of the "f" word and swearing in manuscripts. My take is to follow your comfort level and the dictates of your characters, but don't overdo it. In Two Wrongs , I allowed my villain to swear, but I was more circumspect about my hero's language. A constant barrage of swearing de-sensitizes the reader, while swearing at opportune moments such as a reaction to a ...