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Best Practices when Formatting Dialogue in a Screenplay
Best Practices when Formatting Dialogue in a Screenplay

Learn how to properly format dialogue in a script

Brandon avatar
Written by Brandon
Updated over a week ago

Dialogue should help the reader get an understanding of who the character is, while also moving the story forward. Avoid being "on the nose"  or having character's say exactly what is on their mind as the subtext, or what is left unsaid, ads tension and emotional resonance to a scene.

Watch the video below for proper formatting examples! 👇

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Interruptions

If a character is interrupted during a speech, it should end with an M-dash (space followed by two hyphens). It is not necessary to start the character who is interrupting the speech with an M-dash. 

Like this:

       SHARON
Is everythi --

       TOM
It's here!

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Text Read Out Loud 

If a character is reading a block of text out loud, this should be established with a parenthetical (reading) and the text enclosed in quotation marks.

Like this:

             SHARON
      (reading)
"Dear Thomas, The admission
committee has completed its review
of your application."

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Trail off 

If a character's speech trails off, it should end with an ellipsis (...). If a second character finishes that sentence, their speech should begin with an ellipsis.

Like this:

              BRENT
We even finish each others...

Brent is distracted by a fly.

              KYLE
...Sandwiches.

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