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‘The Office’ Dialogue in Five Charts

A breakdown of how every character contributed to the show.

By Caitlyn Ralph

How much did everyone say?

Lines spoken by characters who appeared in at least six episodes (the length of season one).

When looking at the total line counts, it is no surprise that Michael, Dwight, Jim, Pam and Andy—arguably the show’s main characters—occupy the top five while other primary side characters, such as Angela and Kevin, sit in the top 10. However, it’s interesting to note that even though Michael left the series over two seasons before it ended, he says nearly twice as much as Dwight, who holds the second most-chatty spot.

Aside from Michael, with this view it becomes obvious that The Office places emphasis on guest characters, such as Jo (Sabre CEO, played by Kathy Bates), Charles (Michael’s new boss at the end of season 5, played by Idris Elba) and Robert California (takes over Sabre after Jo, played by James Spader). Surprisingly, Carol (Michael’s realtor turned early love interest, played by Steve Carell’s real-life wife, Nancy) jumps up into the top 10, right before Jan, Michael’s boss and recurring partner.

Share of dialogue throughout the series

The average percent of lines each character contributed each episode per season.

After Michael’s dialogue contribution plummets in season 7, other characters contributed more, like Dwight, Pam, and Andy, who, albeit sporadically, assumes the manager position. The dialogue distribution is more diverse and less focused on one character as a result, elevating primary side characters, such as Angela and Erin, and their storylines.

If you’re a fan of the series, Andy probably wasn’t who you thought would step into Michael’s job. However, Michael left at the end of season 7, which aired in 2010. The Hangover—the comedy that Ed Helms (Andy) played a main role in— was released in 2009 and became an instant hit, setting up the actor and his visibility to steal the show’s dwindling spotlight.

Quickly after her introduction in season 5 as the new receptionist, Erin skyrockets to one of the show’s main characters. Darryl, who is invited from the warehouse to the office by Jo, becomes a more consistent addition to dialogue. The primary side characters—Angela, Kevin, Oscar, Toby, Phyllis, Kelly, Meredith and Stanley—all stay consistent over the course of the series.

The most negative characters

The sentiment of main characters each season according to IBM’s Watson.

Season

Overall Average

Negative

Positive

Overall, the characters’ dialogue is overwhelmingly negative, which, when taking into account the show’s storylines, makes sense. The always stringent Angela Martin, almost expectedly, comes in as the most negative character. Her most negative season was season 4—the same season her consistent partner, Dwight, kills her precious and sick cat, Sprinkles. Similarly, Dwight’s most negative season was season 5, when Angela is engaged to fellow officemate Andy.

Ryan experiences a bump in positivity when he’s promoted to the head office in season 4. At first, Jim’s positivity was surprising, but, when acknowledging his temperate personality compared to his coworkers, it becomes more understandable. Pam’s negativity drops when she starts dating Jim, placing season 8, when she has her second child, as her most positive time in the series. Erin begins with a sharply positive sentiment, but, as she gets mixed up in office politics, particularly her relationship with Gabe, she starts to get more negative.

Every “that’s what she said” quote

  • Season 2 Episode 2No, thanks. I'm good. That's what she said. Pam? Uh... my mother's coming.That's what she sa—nope. But... Okay. Well, suit yourself.
  • Season 2 Episode 2You can consider this my retirement from comedy. And in the future, if I want to say something funny or witty or do an impression, I will no longer, ever, do any of those things. Does that include That's What She Said? Mmmhmm. Yes.Wow! That is really hard. You really think you can go all day long? Well, you always left me satisfied and smiling, so... THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!
  • Season 2 Episode 10Why did you get it so big? A, that's what she said. And B, I wanted it to be impressive.
  • Season 2 Episode 12Does the skin look red and swollen? That's what she said. That's my joke. Damnit, Dwight.
  • Season 2 Episode 12[Jim popping Michael's bubble wrap cast] You should put butter on it. Uh, that's what she said. See, haven't lost my sense of humor. No—no need, it was a non-stick grill.
  • Season 2 Episode 17[To Dwight, who's eating grapes] That's what she said! Ha! I don't get it.
  • Season 2 Episode 21How about the Phyllis/Angela dispute? You already did me.That's what she said.
  • Season 3 Episode 1Even if it didn't, at least we put this matter to bed. ...That's what she said.
  • Season 3 Episode 5I mean, they're just dough twisted up with some candy. They taste so good in my mouth. That's what she said.
  • Season 3 Episode 10I wanna give you something. Oh. That's what she said.
  • Season 3 Episode 12I want you to think about your future in this company. I want you to think about it long and hard. That's what she said. Don't. Don't you dare.
  • Season 3 Episode 17Let's just blow this party off. That's what she said.
  • Season 3 Episode 17Why is this so hard? That's what she said. Oh my God. What am I saying?
  • Season 3 Episode 21I need two men on this. That's what she said. No time! But she did. NO TIME! Guys, get on this.
  • Season 3 Episode 22No mustard! No mustard! Just... eat it. Eat it, Phyllis. Dip it in the water so it will slide down your gullet more easily. That's what she said!
  • Season 4 Episode 2Hey. Can you make that straighter? That's what she said. Did you plan it? No.[Finds note] Can you make that straighter? That job looks hard. You should put your mouth on that. How can you even use that one naturally? Blowing up balloons I thought.
  • Season 4 Episode 4And the best way to start is to hit start. And up comes the toolbar— that's what she said.
  • Season 4 Episode 7Well, I dont think I'll be here in ten years. That's what I said.That's what she said. That's what who said?I never know. I just say it. I say stuff like that, you know, to lighten the tension. When things sort of get hard. That's what she said.
  • Season 4 Episode 8And you were directly under her the entire time? That's what she said. Excuse me? That's what she said.
  • Season 4 Episode 8Come again? That's what she said? I don't know what you're talking about.
  • Season 4 Episode 8Mr. Schneider: And you were directly under her the entire time? Mr. Scott: That's what she said. Well, delivery is all wrong. She's butchering it.
  • Season 4 Episode 9AND YOU'RE HARDLY MY FIRST! THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!
  • Season 4 Episode 12And... go. Force it in as deep as you can. That's what she said.
  • Season 5 Episode 1Yeah, well, if you're only free till three on Sunday and I can't get there till one, then it's gonna be pretty tight. [from Michael's office] That's what she said.
  • Season 5 Episode 4It squeaks when you bang it. That's what she said.
  • Season 5 Episode 5Don't make it harder than it has to be. That's what she said.
  • Season 5 Episode 6Dwight, get out of my nook! That's what she said! That's what she said! That's what she said! Good one.
  • Season 5 Episode 17Alright, Dwight! This is huge. That's what she said!
  • Season 6 Episode 18You need to get back on top. That's what she said.
  • Season 7 Episode 8Michael! You are making this harder than it has to be. That's what she said.
  • Season 7 Episode 13No, comedy is a place where the mind goes to tickle itself. That's what she said.
  • Season 7 Episode 15I'm not saying it won't be hard. But we can make it work. That's what she said.
  • Season 7 Episode 21This is gonna feel so good, getting this thing off my chest. That's what she said!
  • Season 9 Episode 5Wait! Wait. Hold on. Where's the band? 'Cause there's just no way you guys are making this magic with just your mouths. Yeah. That's what she said.
  • Season 9 Episode 23Michael. I cant believe you came. That's what she said.

Inextricably attached to Michael’s character is “that’s what she said”—so much so, he says most of the quotes in the series and frequently gets angry at Dwight, who will add his own sometimes. There’s a “that’s what she said” dry spot in Michael’s absence, only broke by the one, and only, Creed Bratton (which is the actor’s name in real life, if you didn’t know). Michael returns in the finale to send off his best friend Dwight on his wedding day with one more legendary “that’s what she said.”

Dwight Tweets

Generate random tweets created from Markov chains of all Dwight’s dialogue.

In season 8, while unpacking Nellie’s house with Jim, Dwight declares that he should have a “tweeter” account. We agreed, so we generated one using a Markov model, based on all of his lines in the series.

“I look like a giant walking salami!”

Us too, Dwight.

Methodology: Data via officequotes.net. For sentiment analysis, only seasons where a character had at least 50 lines were included.