The Mechanics of Writing Dialogue

[Piroska]

The Mechanics of Writing Dialogue
Just a quick reference guide covering the grammar and punctuation rules when writing dialogue!

Please note that this guide is written from the perspective of American English. While there may be some subtle variations (typically in regards to punctuation), the general construction of dialogue remains fairly consistent within the varying English dialects.


Basic punctuation rules of writing dialogue.
The first rule -- and easiest -- of writing dialogue is recognize that dialogue is almost always identified by the use of quotation marks. A comma is typically used to separate dialogue and everything else. The portion that is not dialogue is known as the tag line and it is often used to identify who is speaking. When this extension occurs after the dialogue it is not capitalized unless another grammatical rule takes precedence (for example "I" is always capitalized, as are proper nouns).

Generally, punctuation is placed within the quotation marks. Separate the dialogue from the tag line using a comma unless a question or exclamation concludes the dialogue segment. Commas are never used alongside question marks or exclamation marks.

EXAMPLE:
"Ducks," he wondered aloud. "Why did it have to be ducks?"

Chrome Circle, Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon

Use commas when tag lines interrupt dialogue.
When the tag line interrupts the flow of dialogue, it is surrounded by commas.

EXAMPLE:
"By the way," Merritt asked, lowering his voice to a near whisper, "I heard that your captain used to run a transport."

Wing Commander: Eng Run, Christopher Stasheff and William R. Forstchen

Tag lines are not action statements.
Dialogue can do more than just share what characters are saying. Just like in real life, characters are often doings things in addition to speaking: moving, performing a task, or demonstrating some quick such as playing with her hair or pursing his lips. Rather than describing how something is said (often through the use of adverbs), action statements are used in conjunction with tag lines to share this information.

It is important to remember, however, that these actions are separate from tag lines. Characters can speak words, but they cannot laugh, shrug, and smile them. Action statements can be used on their own or integrated with tag lines.

EXAMPLE:
The Hunter shrugged; his eyes remained fixed on the sea. "They must have been misled, somehow." A faint smile ghosted across his lips, then was gone. "Perhaps they followed the wrong trail. Perhaps they attacked the wrong people."

When True Night Falls, C.S. Friedman

Use single quotes to identify a quotation within a quotation.
Single quotes are used for quotes within quotes. This may happen when one character repeats what another says or directly quotes another. Note that punctuation goes inside all quotation marks.

EXAMPLE:
To change the subject, I said, "Who was the pale woman?"

"The Necromancer," he said. "She will be in overall charge of our sorcerers."

" 'The Necromancer,' " I said. "I've heard of her. Heck of a name. Will she raise the dead for us?"

"If necessary," said Morrolan.

Dragon, Steven Brust

Quotes that span more than a single paragraph are unique.
When a quotation exists as more than a single paragraph, don't use end quotes at the close of the first paragraph. Instead use them when them when the character is done speaking. Every paragraph should still begin with quotation marks if the character is speaking.

EXAMPLE:
King Anders smiled, and gave his son a pained look. "As you know, I've played Gaborn falsely in the past. I asked you two here, I asked Erin here, so that I could apologize."

"Exactly how did you play him falsely?" Erin asked.

"I sent messages to King Lowicker of Beldinook and warned him to beware the pretend Earth King. I also plotted with Internook to invade Mystarria, and these two lands granted support. Others were more reticent to rush to judgment, though, as you can see, many a foreign lord has come to join my army. Only one man alone I did not seek to entice into my war -- Raj Ahten, for I feared that he was beyond even my power to redeem.

"But since the Earth called me to be its king, my heart has grown uneasy. You see, every man, woman, and child is precious to me now. Every one of them. Yet I've sent the kings of the earth to battle Mystarria. Without endowment to protect them, the folk of Mysterrica are doomed. My only hope is that we can reach them before Gaborn's enemies do, and thus bring enough aid to turn the tide of war."

The Lair of Bones, David Farland

Multiple voices should occur in separate paragraphs.
When writing dialogue between multiple characters, each should speak in a separate paragraph. This helps with the flow of the dialogue and also allows the reader to easily identify who is speaking. Each speaker's paragraph is known as a dialogue block.

EXAMPLE:
Granny Elise came back and sat with them. "Has Morgan told you how we met?" she asked the Ohmsfords. "Oh, well, it was quite something. He brought us food and clothes for the children, he gave us money to buy what we could, and he helped guide a dozen children north to be placed with families in the free territories."

"Oh, for goodness sake, Granny!" Morgan interjected, embarrassed.

"Exactly! And he works around the house now and then when he visits, too," she added, ignoring him. "We have become his own private little charity, haven't we, Morgan?"

"That reminds me -- here." Morgan reached into his tunic and extracted a small pouch. The contents jingled as he passed it over. "I won a wager a week or so back about some perfume." He winked at the Valemen.

The Heritage of Shannara, Terry Brooks

Provide enough information so that the reader knows who is speaking.
You should always include enough information so that your reader knows who is talking. This is often accomplished through tag lines. However, once a cadence has been established these identifiers can be omitted. The context of the dialogue can also help the reader understand who is speaking.

EXAMPLE:
"You need not take my word for it." Dineer chuckled. "Mathematics will provide you proof."

"That's Tall Folk knowledge," Willow told him. "We Nelwyns have our own way, with little use for Daikini numbers."

"It's there, regardless."

"Where does it go, Dineer, this water?"

"To another land, only there this is called the Sunrise Sea. And beyond that land, another ocean. And so on, until at last we come back to where we started."

"Are there people?"

"Domains there, as here, all the Realm of the Veil Folk. Plus what you would call Daikini, in their mad variety. Kingdoms galore, the greatest being Angwyn, which is as far from your home, young magus, as it's possible to go."

Shadow Moon, George Lucas and Chris Claremont

Clearly identify internal dialogue.
Internal dialogue occurs when a character thinks to himself or (if the universe allows for it) communicates with another character telepathically or through some other non-verbal means. You should clearly distinguish internal dialogue from external dialogue in order to aid your readers. This is typically done with italics, but other identifiers have been used and are equally acceptable -- assuming that their use are unique and consistent.

EXAMPLE:
"I too am much moved by the tale, Lanen Kaelar," he said softly in truespeech. "Your tears honor me."

Song in the Silence, Elizabeth Kerner

[Holynexus]

Thanks so much!

[JVNemesis]

You have lovely taste in literature.

...

Nice guide, too.

[Piroska]

Thank you to you both! I had been mulling over writing a guide like this for some time because this seemed to be a particular area where guidance could be helpful. I may consider writing another one once I settle upon an appropriate topic.

You have lovely taste in literature.

Haha, I just grabbed a handful of novels from my bookcase and started quoting passages. It helped that I have read most of them so frequently that I could easily locate the types of examples that I desired.