Dialogue Writing (Useful Phrases)

 

RULES FOR WRITING DIALOGUE 

The following rules should help you learn to write dialogue properly. 
Notice the punctuation in the following examples, especially. In addition to these hints on form, please remember that dialogue should be natural for the characters speaking (be sure to keep in mind your characters’ personality traits). 

1. Use quotation marks around the words which the character says: 
“It’s sure cold out here, “ Mark said. 

2. Begin a new paragraph each time a different person speaks – this can help to cut down on the number of dialogue tags required. 
“Did you say your prayers tonight?’ 
“I meant to, but I got to trying to cipher out how much twelve times thirteen is, and –“ 
“Oh, we are lost beyond all help! How could you neglect such a thing at such a time as this?”

 Remember to indent the beginning of each dialogue paragraph, just as you would in any other type of writing. 

3. Only the exact words of a person are in quotation marks. Also, when splitting a quotation with a dialogue tag, do not capitalize words which do not begin new sentences. 

“I really don’t know,” he said, “whether she loves me or not.”

 4. When several sentences are quoted together to form a paragraph, put just one set of quotation marks around the whole quotation. (except for dialogue tags). 

5. Periods and commas are always placed inside the quotation marks.

 6. An exclamation point (!) or a question mark (?) is placed inside the quotation marks when it punctuates a quotation, but outside the quotation when it punctuates the main sentence.

 She looked at me and asked, “Are you alright?” (? punctuates the quote) 

Did the teacher really say, “Finish this today”? (? punctuates the main sentence) 

Some Useful Phrases for Dialogue Writing 

1. Greetings (starting) Hello! / Hi / Good Morning / How nice to see you! / What’s a pleasant surprise! (Ending) Bye! Have a nice day! / Good day! / See you! / It’s good to see you! / Thanks for coming!

2. Salutations- Mr. Sharma / Mrs. Rani / Miss Sharma / Madam / Sir / Ladies and gentleman / Yes, Mr. Smith.

3. Introduction- Let me introduce Mr. Rani (to you) / Let me introduce myself) meet my friend Raj / How do you do?

4. Thanks- Thank you / Thanks / Thank you very much / I’m most grateful to you / Thanks a lot / It’s good of you.

5. How to say “yes” / “no” yes, good / Ok / all right / that it! / Certainly! / Of course / Sure ! / Oh, no / I don’t think so / not at all / certainly not / not yet.

6. Requests- Will you please pass me / help me? / Here you are / with pleasure / could you please? / would you help me?

7. Excuses- I’m sorry / excuse me, please / sorry, I cannot help it/it’s ok / that’s all right / will you excuse me for a moment? Pardon me!

8. Courtesy - How are you? I’m well, thank you, and you? / Have a good time / Quite well, thanks / this way, please.

9. Satisfaction - Very good / Great / Splendid / Amazing / That’s fine / That’s ok. That’s all right / I’m glad to see you again.

10. Dissatisfaction - Stop it! / How can he be so silly! / It’s stupid! It’s unbelievable! / ‘I’ m sick of it!

11. Weather- What’s the weather forecast? It’s awfully hot / It is sultry / It’s getting warm / It is sunny / It is raining. It’s cloudy / It’s breezy

12. Health- How are you? / Are you feeling better now? / You look/don’t look well / I’m very well / I hurt my knee / I’ve broken my arm.

13. Sympathy - Please accept my condolences / I share your distress / Accept my deepest condolences / I’m so sorry for him.

14. Agreeing - Absolutely / Precisely / Exactly / I totally agree / So do I / Nor do I / I think you’re right up to a point.

15. Disagreeing - You’re quite wrong there / I’m sorry, but I don’t agree at all / that’s an exaggeration.

16. Checking your - Do you really mean to say ---? / What exactly do you mean by that?

17. Asking for Opinions - So, what do you think? / How do you feel about this / What is your view / Do you agree with that.

18. Giving Opinions- In my opinion / As far as I’m concerned / I think / I feel / To my mind.

19. Correcting misunderstandings - Don’t get me wrong. What I meant was --- / That’s not quite what I meant by ---

20. Interrupting- Sorry to interrupt, but --- / May I interrupt you for a moment? Can I just make a point?

21. Dealing with interruptions- I haven’t finished, if you don’t mind / If I might just finish --- / Let me just make my point.

 

 

A dialogue between two friends who meet after the English paper outside the examination hall.

 

Mohit- Hello Ajay. How about the English paper?

Ajay - Oh, My luck worked there. It had all those topics I had prepared thoroughly.

Mohit - But I had to write off-hand and I don’t think it was a good attempt.

Ajay - Oh, don’t mind. You always score better than me. I wish you good luck.

Mohit - Thank you, Ajay.

Ajay - Now let’s go and prepare for the next paper.

Mohit - You are right, Ajay, Bye!

 A brief conversation between 2 old friends meeting by chance at a café. 

Ram: Hello Suresh, how are you, it's been a long time since we last met?
Suresh: Oh, hi Ram I'm have got a new job now and is going great. How about you?
Ram: Not too bad.
Suresh: How often do you eat at this café?
Ram: This is my first time my friends kept telling me the food was great, so tonight I decided to try it. What have you been up to?
Suresh: I have been so busy with my new job that I have not had the time to do much else, but otherwise, me and the family are all fine.
Ram: Well, I hope you and your family have a lovely meal.
Suresh: Yes you too.