A Guide on How to Write Dialogue in an Essay
Ever find yourself reading an essay and feeling like it’s missing a bit of flair? Adding dialogue can be just the thing to bring your writing to life. For students and aspiring writers, knowing how to naturally implement dialogue in essays can make a significant difference. Let’s look closer into the rules on how to quote dialogue in an essay, formatting requirements, and general writing recommendations that will make your writing stand out!
Dialogue - Definition & Types
Dialogue is a conversation between two or more characters. It’s a way to convey thoughts, feelings, and actions through spoken words, making the narrative more dynamic and realistic. In essays, dialogue can be used to provide evidence, illustrate a point, or bring a story to life.
Types of Dialogue
- Direct Dialogue: This is when you write the exact words spoken by the characters, enclosed in quotation marks.
- Example: "I can't believe we won the game!" she exclaimed.
- Indirect Dialogue: This is when you summarize what a character said without using their exact words.
- Example: She said that she couldn’t believe they had won the game.
Direct dialogue is more vivid and engaging, while indirect dialogue is useful for summarizing conversations without going into detail.
There are also two other types of dialogues: inner and outer. The first one is when the characters are basically talking with themselves, while the second – is when they are talking to the audience or other persona. The type of dialogue to include mostly depends on the purpose with which you decided to write such a conversation into your essay in the first place.
How to Format Dialogue in an Essay: General Rules
Writing a dialogue is not so tricky when you get accustomed to it. It is also much easier when you follow all the main rules.
Always enclose spoken words in quotation marks. Each speaker gets their own paragraph, even if they’re only saying one word. For example,
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“To the park,” he replied.
Indent these paragraphs, unless it’s the start of a chapter or after a scene break.
When it comes to formatting dialogue, punctuation is key. Commas and periods should be placed inside the quotation marks. For example: “Let’s go,” she said.
Question marks and exclamation points can go inside or outside the quotation marks depending on the sentence. For instance, if the punctuation is part of the dialogue, it goes inside:
“Are you coming?” he asked.
If it’s part of the overall sentence, it goes outside: Did he really say, “I’ll be there”?
Use single quotation marks for a quote within a quote. For example: “I heard him say, ‘I’ll be there soon,’” she recounted.
Additionally, when you have multiple characters speaking, it’s important to make sure each voice is distinct and recognizable. This can be achieved through word choice, sentence structure, and even punctuation. For instance, a character who is nervous might speak in short, choppy sentences, while a more confident character might use longer, flowing sentences.
Lastly, be mindful of the pacing of your dialogue. Rapid exchanges can create a sense of urgency or tension, while longer, more reflective dialogue can slow the pace and allow for deeper exploration of themes or character development. And make sure the dialogue adds value to your essay by supporting your argument or adding depth to your story.
How to Put Dialogue in an Essay: Step-by-Step Process
Now, as we got the basics out of the way, we can move on to writing. To make the process less chaotic and simpler to manage, you can follow the steps below.
- Identify the Purpose
Determine why you are including dialogue. Is it to support a point, provide evidence, or add a narrative element?
Example: To show a character’s change in attitude, you might include a conversation where they express their new viewpoint. - Set the Scene
Give context to the dialogue. Who is speaking? Where are they? What is happening around them?
Example: As the rain poured outside, Jane turned to Mark and said, “We need to talk about what happened.” - Write the Dialogue
Use quotation marks and start a new paragraph for each new speaker.
Example:- “I’ve been thinking,” Jane began, “about what you said yesterday.”
- Mark looked away, his expression unreadable. “And?”
- Add Dialogue Tags
Use tags like “he said” or “she asked” to clarify who is speaking.
Example: “I’m not sure if it’s the right decision,” she admitted. - Review and Edit
Make sure the dialogue is clear, concise, and relevant to your essay.
Tips and Tricks for Writing an Effective Dialogue
Writing dialogue that feels authentic and engaging requires a mix of creativity and attention to detail. One of the most important aspects is to make characters sound like real people, which means breaking grammatical rules occasionally. People don’t always speak in complete sentences or use proper grammar, so letting your characters do the same can make them more relatable. For instance, breaking sentences with periods can emphasize emotions, like in:
“I. Want. That. PUPPY!!!” Morgan exclaimed.
This technique forces the reader to pause at each word, conveying the character's excitement.
However, readability is still important. If the dialogue is too jumbled, it will confuse readers. Even when characters use poor grammar, proper punctuation helps make their speech clearer. Take this example:
“Because no,” she said into the phone. “I need a bigger shed to store all my stuff in . . . yeah, no, that’s not gonna work for me, I told you what I need and now you gotta make it happen.”
*Pro tip here: read your dialogue aloud to see if it flows naturally like a normal conversation or if it sounds robotic/too literary.
When editing dialogue, cut out the small talk and filler words that don’t add to the story. Dialogue should characterize individuals, define relationships, and advance the plot. For instance, characters in TV shows rarely say “good-bye” when hanging up because it doesn’t contribute to the storyline. Additionally, varying dialogue tags can help convey the tone but don’t overdo it. Basic tags like “said” often work best, but occasionally using tags like “shouted” or “whispered” can add nuance. Unconventional tags like “laughed”, though, should be used sparingly to avoid distracting the reader.
Each character should have a unique voice, which can be achieved through distinct vocabulary, speech patterns, and reactions. Consistency is key, and any changes in a character’s voice should be intentional and fit the narrative. Reading dialogue out loud can help identify any unnatural phrasing or inconsistencies.
Conclusion
Writing dialogue in an essay might seem tricky at first, but with these tips and rules, you’ll be able to add engaging and effective conversations to your writing. Remember to keep it relevant, follow the formatting rules, and use dialogue to improve your narrative (and not just to add the word count). Practice makes perfect, so don’t be afraid to experiment and see what works best for your style.
FAQ
How to write dialogue in an essay example?
To write dialogue in an essay, you should start by identifying the purpose of the dialogue. Once you have the purpose, set the scene by providing context about who is speaking, where they are, and what is happening around them. Write the dialogue using quotation marks to enclose the spoken words and start a new paragraph each time a different character speaks.
For example:
“I’ve been thinking,” Jane began, “about what you said yesterday.”
Mark looked away, his expression unreadable. “And?”
What are the 5 rules of writing dialogue?
When writing dialogue, the key rules to remember include:
- putting spoken words in quotation marks,
- starting a new paragraph for each new speaker,
- placing punctuation inside the quotation marks,
- making sure the dialogue adds value to your essay,
- and making each character’s voice distinct and recognizable through word choice and sentence structure.
How do you write a dialogue?
Begin by determining the purpose of the dialogue in your essay. Set the scene to provide context for the conversation, then write the dialogue itself using quotation marks. Each new speaker should start a new paragraph. Use dialogue tags sparingly to avoid confusion about who is speaking, and incorporate action beats to add context and depth. Finally, review and edit the dialogue to ensure clarity and relevance.
What is an example of a dialogue?
An example of a dialogue could be a conversation between two characters discussing their plans. For instance:
“Are you coming to the party tonight?” Sarah asked, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
“I’m not sure,” John replied, glancing at his watch. “I have a lot of homework to finish.”
This exchange illustrates how dialogue can be used to convey information and reveal character traits.
