When it comes to writing dialogue, I see two types of uses to indicate who spoke. Here they are in a nutshell:

“I’m hungry,” said Jennifer.

“I’m hungry,” Jennifer said.

Is one more right than the other? Which is best? In truth, both are correct and both work. However, one of them flows better off the tongue and in the minds of the reader. Specifically, it is the “Jennifer said.” And here’s why…

Let’s substitute “she” for “Jennifer” in the above dialogue and you tell me which sounds awkward:

“I’m hungry,” said she.

“I’m hungry,” she said.

Exactly! “Said she,” sounds awkward, and so in the minds of a reader, the “said Jennifer” also sounds a bit awkward as opposed to “Jennifer said” and “she said.” So, if you must choose one, my personal preference is “Jennifer said” and “she said” rather than the others. In the end, it is more about giving the reader a seamless experience, one that doesn’t create a hiccup in their minds or imaginations. You are trying to deliver truth, so anything that can make the experience easier and seamless is the goal.

Happy writing!