Dialogue formatting matters. Whether you’re working on an essay, novel, or any other form of creative writing. Perfectly formatted dialogue makes your work more readable and engaging for the audience.
In this article, you’ll learn the dialogue formatting rules. Also, we’ll share examples of dialogue in essays for you to see the details.
What is a Dialogue Format?
Dialogue format is a writing form authors use to present characters' communication. It's common for play scripts, literature works, and other forms of storytelling.
A good format helps the audience understand who is speaking and what they say. It makes the communication clear and enjoyable. In dialogue writing, we follow the basic grammar rules like punctuation and capitalization. They help us illustrate the speaker’s ideas.
General Rules to Follow When Formatting a Dialogue
Dialogue writing is an essential skill for both professionals and scholars. It shows your ability to express the issues and ideas of other people in different setups. The core rules of formatting are about punctuation. So, below is a quick reminder on punctuation marks’ names:
And now, to practice.
Please follow these rules for proper dialogue formatting:
- Use quotation marks. Enclose the speaker’s words in double quotations. It helps readers distinguish between a character’s speech and a narrator’s comments.
- Place punctuation inside quotation marks. All punctuation like commas, exclamations, or interrogation marks, go inside the double quotations.
- Keep dialogue tags behind quotation marks. A dialogue tag is (1) words framing direct speech to convey the context and emotions of a conversation. For example, in (“I can’t believe this is you,” she replied.), the dialogue tag is “she replied.”
- Use an ellipsis or em-dashes for pauses or interruptions. To show interruptions or pauses, end phrases with ellipses inside quotations. Em-dashes go outside quotations. No other extra marks are necessary here.
- Remember a character’s voice. Ensure that each character’s phrases reflect their background and personality.
5 More Rules to Know (+ Examples of Dialogue)
For proper formatting of dialogue in writing, stick to the following rules:
1. Each speaker’s saying comes in a new paragraph
Begin a new paragraph whenever a new character starts speaking. It allows you to differentiate speakers and make their conversation look more organized. (2)
Like this:
“Has Mr. de Winter been in?” I said.
“Yes, Madam,” said Robert; “he came in just after two, and had a quick lunch, and then went out again. He asked for you and Frith said he thought you must have gone down to see the ship.”
“Did he say when he would be back again?” I asked.
“No, Madam.”
— from Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
2. Separate dialogue tags with commas
When using dialogue tags (e.g., “she said,” “he replied,”), separate them with commas.
For example:
“You’ve got to do something right now,” Aaron said, “Mom is really hurting. She says you have to drive her to the hospital.”
“Actually, Dad,” said Caleb, sidling in with his catalog, “There’s someplace you can drive me, too.”
“No, Caleb.”
— from The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
3. When quoting within dialogue, place single quotes
If a character cites somebody or something while speaking, we call it a reported dialogue. In this case, use single quotations within double ones you place for a direct speech. It will help readers see that it’s a quote.
Like here:
John started to cry. “When you said, ‘I never wanted to meet you again in my life!’ It hurts my feelings.”
4. You can divide a character’s long speech into paragraphs
Dialogue writing is different when a person speaks for a longer time. It’s fine to divide it into shorter paragraphs. Ensure the proper quotation marks placing:
The first quotation mark goes at the beginning of the dialogue. Each later paragraph also starts with it until that direct speech ends.
The second quotation mark — the one “closing” the monologue — goes at the dialogue’s end.
Example:
Josphat took a deep breath and began. “Here’s the things about lions. They’re dangerous creatures. They only know how to kill. Have you ever seen a lion in an open area? Probably not. Because if you had you’d be dead now.
“I saw a lion once. I was fetching firewood to cook lunch. All of a sudden I found myself face to face with a lion. My heart stopped. I knew it was my end on earth. If it wasn’t the poachers we wouldn’t be having this talk.”
Yet, you can keep a long text as a whole by adding some context with dialogue tags. Like here:
As you can see, there’s no quotation mark at the end of the paragraph in red. It’s because the next “Ha! ha!” paragraph continues the character’s speech.
5. Use action beats
Describe actions to provide context and keep readers engaged. Help them “hear” your characters. Punctuation also helps here: exclamation (!) or interrogation with exclamations (?!) demonstrate the corresponding tone of your narrative.
Example:
He slammed the door and shouted, “I can’t believe you did that!“
Mistakes to Avoid When Formatting Dialogue
A good dialogue is a powerful instrument for a writer to show the character’s nature to the audience. Below are the mistakes to avoid in formatting if you want to reach that goal.
So, please don’t:
- Allow characters to speak for too long. Writing long paragraphs will bore the reader, making them skip through your speech. Short but sweet talk is the best. When writing, aim to be brief, dynamic, and purposeful. If your character speaks too much, generating opinion essays, ensure this speech makes sense and serves a bigger purpose.
- Overburden dialogue with exposition. Avoid telling the story background or building sophisticated words in your characters’ speeches. Instead, reveal the narrative content in small bursts and blend it around the rest of the prose. Convey it through your character’s actions and thoughts rather than summaries and explanations.
- Create rhetorical flourishes. Make your characters sound natural. Let them speak the way they’d do if they were real people. Consider their age, profession, and cultural background — and choose lexical items that fit them most.
- Use repetitive dialogue tags. Constant “he asked” and “she said” sounds monotonous. Diversify your tags: use power verbs, synonyms, and dialogue beats.
Frequently Asked Questions by Students
How to format dialogue in an essay?
Formatting a dialogue in an essay is tricky for most students. Here’s how to do it: Enclose the speaker’s words with double quotations and start every other character’s line from a new paragraph. Stick to the citation styles like APA or MLA to ensure credibility.
How to format dialogue in a novel?
A dialogue in a novel follows all the standard rules for clarity and readability. Ensure to use attributions, quotation marks, and paragraph format. It makes your dialogue flow, grabbing the reader’s attention.
How to format dialogue in a book?
Dialogue formatting in a book is critical for storytelling. It helps the audience distinguish the hero’s words. Follow the general rules we’ve discussed above:
Use double quotations and isolate dialogue tags with commas. Remember to place the discussion in blocks for better readability.
How to format dialogue between two characters?
A two-character dialogue offers the best way to prove successful formatting skills. Ensure you use action beats, quotations, and attribution tags. It allows readers to follow the conversation and understand it better.
What is the purpose of dialogue in a narrative essay?
Dialogue writing is the exchange of views between two or more people to reach a consensus. It reveals the character’s attitude and argumentation. Last but not least, it helps convey the descriptive nature of your narrative essay.
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