Expressing Laughter

[William King]

Choose an option that best matches how you most usually express laughter (when writing). Choose the closest option, example: LMAO includes LMFAO etc., ha ha ha includes ha ha, you get the idea.

 

Let's see what the results are, and if you want to add comments, go ahead.

[Puppilull]

It depends on what I write. In texts, I'd say LOL but in a story I would use ha ha ha or hehehe depending on what kind of laugh I wanted to express.

 

Now, feel free to sigh 'Bloody lawyers...'

[Emi GS]

I mostly use 'Hahaha' in general. And when I had to write something I often use 'Lol' as an expression of laughter. So, in general, you know what I had voted for.

[Valkyrie]

I'm with Puppi. It depends on what I'm writing.  In texts, emails, or messaging with friends, I write any variation of lol, LOL, LMAO, etc.  If I'm writing a story, I describe the laughter.  I will very rarely write "ha ha ha" or something like that, unless the character actually said it.  

 

"Ha. Ha. You're so funny."  I rolled my eyes.  

 

I erupted in laughter.  The joke wasn't that funny, but the look on his face was priceless.  

 

John's body shook with silent laughter.  

 

He covered his mouth with his hand, trying to suppress a giggle.  

 

 

If I am writing texts or emails that a character sent, then I will use text speak or the appropriate informal language. 

[Sasha Distan]

I'll use hahaha when i'm talking in my voice in the forums and such, but not as a writer. I never use LOL style abbreviations - they became a thing when I was teenager, and I can't help but associate them with the jerks at our school who would use them in actual conversation.

[Graeme]

I use narration, not dialogue. What you're asking is how to express laughter in dialogue, and the simplest answer is not to. There are a wide variety of sounds we can make that we don't normally consider to be dialogue, laughter is merely one of them.

 

As an aside, I have a son who says LOL in conversations, but he's not laughing when he says it. He uses it to indicate he's amused.

[Cynus]

Mine depends entirely on whom I'm speaking to, and I match their way of using it. I generally don't write out laughter in any way when I'm writing fiction.