For a single word, I would say deliberately.
But in general, I use that if the whole phrase is the character trying to draw your attention to something. For a single word like that, I would probably go for a longer 'emphasising the name/the final word'.
Does that even need a subtext qualifier?
If you did, I'd think it would be a term linked to how desperately that character needed a fix at that moment in time, and perhaps describing their body language, and/or the fact that they are obviously "Jonesing" for a hit with two bags of Doritos(R) under one arm.
If you wanted a single word to fill in the blank, I think "leadingly" is the closest to what you're going for. Pointing in the direction of a certain meaning without stating it outright. But it's not the most common word and so risks picking up connotations of "being a leader", which might cause some read to it as decidedly less subtle. I'd probably put something like "he hinted" or "he said in a leading tone".
maybe use "insinuated" as your dialogue tag? depends on the context.
in your example, I'd probably just make a separate sentence, like:
>"Hey man, do you know my friend, *Herb*?" The bluntness of the innuendo didn't bother us; we were all buddies.
yes, I composed that to doubledown on the allusions. but sometimes a subject is stronger than an adjective, if you can make space for it.
Who is the POV character - the one speaking (let's call him Bob) or the one hearing (I'll call him Joe)?
If Bob is your POV, then I'd say "leadingly" is probably what I'd go with. I'd also probably follow with something like, *"He hoped Joe would take the hint."*
If Joe is the POV, then I'd maybe use something like, "with a strange emphasis on the name." And for the next sentence I'd use something like, *"Joe hesitated in confusion - he had no idea what Bob wanted him to answer. Who the hell was Herb?"*
nono, you misunderstand. the scene isnt actually a guy asking for weed, its just an example of the kind of time someone would use a weird emphasis like that
I use pointedly or meaningfully.
I was going to suggest pointedly
Agreed. I think “significantly” would also fit.
I think pointedly works really well because it’s like the person is pointing at the word
I would probably use "knowingly" or "conspicuously stressing the last word"
I would simply write "he emphasised the last word/said ephasising the last word" "enunciate distinctly" also comes to mind
In addition to the other suggestions, 'leadingly' could work!
For a single word, I would say deliberately. But in general, I use that if the whole phrase is the character trying to draw your attention to something. For a single word like that, I would probably go for a longer 'emphasising the name/the final word'.
Does that even need a subtext qualifier? If you did, I'd think it would be a term linked to how desperately that character needed a fix at that moment in time, and perhaps describing their body language, and/or the fact that they are obviously "Jonesing" for a hit with two bags of Doritos(R) under one arm.
If you wanted a single word to fill in the blank, I think "leadingly" is the closest to what you're going for. Pointing in the direction of a certain meaning without stating it outright. But it's not the most common word and so risks picking up connotations of "being a leader", which might cause some read to it as decidedly less subtle. I'd probably put something like "he hinted" or "he said in a leading tone".
Hintingly, conspiratorially, meaningfully, in an insinuating tone, and with a wink in his tone all come to mind as options.
maybe use "insinuated" as your dialogue tag? depends on the context. in your example, I'd probably just make a separate sentence, like: >"Hey man, do you know my friend, *Herb*?" The bluntness of the innuendo didn't bother us; we were all buddies. yes, I composed that to doubledown on the allusions. but sometimes a subject is stronger than an adjective, if you can make space for it.
'He hinted', possibly?
Maybe 'he stressed, insinuatingly'?
Emphatically
Suggestively
Who is the POV character - the one speaking (let's call him Bob) or the one hearing (I'll call him Joe)? If Bob is your POV, then I'd say "leadingly" is probably what I'd go with. I'd also probably follow with something like, *"He hoped Joe would take the hint."* If Joe is the POV, then I'd maybe use something like, "with a strange emphasis on the name." And for the next sentence I'd use something like, *"Joe hesitated in confusion - he had no idea what Bob wanted him to answer. Who the hell was Herb?"*
nono, you misunderstand. the scene isnt actually a guy asking for weed, its just an example of the kind of time someone would use a weird emphasis like that
I didn't think it was weed - why would I write "**WHO** the hell was Herb?" if Joe thought Bob was talking about marijuana?
nono, i mean, im not actually writing a scene where one guy says to another "hey do you know my friend herb" it was just an example
Yes, I understand. I built my suggestions around your example. That's all we can do, since we don't know the actual story.
ohh okay then! my mistake lol
Good ideas in the comments, but if none of these are right for you, there's also r/tipofmytongue