How to Format Dialogue in a Story
Break and indent paragraphs for different speakers.. Use quotation marks correctly.. Punctuate your dialogue tags properly.
Steps
1
Break and indent paragraphs for different speakers.
Break and indent paragraphs for different speakers.
2
Use quotation marks correctly.
Use quotation marks correctly.
3
Punctuate your dialogue tags properly.
Punctuate your dialogue tags properly.
4
Punctuate questions and exclamations properly.
Punctuate questions and exclamations properly.
5
Use dashes and ellipses correctly.
Use dashes and ellipses correctly.
6
Capitalize the quoted speech.
Capitalize the quoted speech.
7
Break a long speech into multiple paragraphs.
Break a long speech into multiple paragraphs.
8
Avoid using quotation marks with indirect dialogue.
Avoid using quotation marks with indirect dialogue.
9
Make sure the reader knows who is speaking.
Make sure the reader knows who is speaking.
10
Avoid using over-fancy dialogue tags.
Avoid using over-fancy dialogue tags.
11
Vary the placement of your dialogue tags.
Vary the placement of your dialogue tags.
12
Substitute pronouns for proper nouns.
Substitute pronouns for proper nouns.
13
Use dialogue beats to mix up your formatting.
Use dialogue beats to mix up your formatting.
14
Use believable language.
Use believable language.
15
Avoid info-dumping in dialogue.
Avoid info-dumping in dialogue.
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