DIALOGUE WRITING
What is a Dialogue?
A dialogue is a conversation between two individuals on a topic understood and related to by both.
It is an exchange of thoughts and opinions on any kind of topic or issue. A dialogue may either aim
to form a concurrenceofthoughtortodifferentiateone?spointofviewfromtheothers.
Format of a Dialogue
A dialogue does not have any distinct format. However, some rules need to be followed to avoid confusion
while pairing a statement with its speaker.
• When the names of speakers are not mentioned, the dialogues should be written withinquotation marks.
Example: “I have an appointment today.” “What time is it?”
• Insuchcases,attributionslike„hesaid?,„shereplied?etc.shouldalsobeincluded.Example: “I do not trust that man,” hesaid.
• An attribution when used at the beginning of a sentence should always be followed by a comma (,). Example: She said,
“This is the clue we were lookingfor.”
• When names of the speakers are included, they should be followed by a colon mark (:). Example:Rita: How may I helpyou?
MrRao: Could you tell me the way to theboardroom?
• Every time the speaker changes, a new line should be used. Example:Mother: What time will you beback?
Sara: The class will get over by 4, so I should be home by4.30.
Mother: I may not be at home when you come, but I will make some snacks for you beforeleaving.
Tips for Writing a Dialogue
• A written dialogue should appear spontaneous; therefore, do not include elaboratesentences.
• While writing a dialogue, ensure that thoughts are expressedclearly.
• Make a short outline at the beginning so that all important points are given sufficientcredit.
• Arrangement of ideas in a logical sequence is equally important. Jumping back and forth
withthoughts makes the piece appearimmature.
Sample Dialogues
Sample 1
Mahesh: Excuse mesir.
Rohan: Yes, how may I helpyou?
Mahesh: Could you tell me which railway station is thenearest?
Rohan: Sure! The Grant Road railway station is the nearest one from thisplace.
Mahesh: Okay. And how do I reachthere?
Rohan: Oh,it?squitesimple.Youwalkstraightforabouttenminutes.Youwillreachatrafficsignal.
There you will see a small park in the centre of the road.
Mahesh: And afterthat?
Rohan: You cross the road and take the bylane which has Irani hotels on both sides.
You walk for another two minutes and there you will see the railwaystation.
Mahesh: Thank you, sir. You have been very helpful. Have a good day!
Rohan: You are welcome.
Sample 2
Jeet: Hello! Am I speaking to Mr Raman Shah?
MrShah: Yes, who isthis?
Jeet: HelloSir.MynameisJeet.Ireadyouradvertisementforapayingguestintoday?
snewspaper and would like to enquire more aboutit.
MrShah: Oh yes! I have a spare flat which I would like to rentout.
Jeet: This flat you mentioned, where exactly is it located? Is it close to thestation?
MrShah: It is on the second floor of Pravin Apartments which is about a two–three minute
walk from the Santa Cruz railwaystation.
Jeet: Okay, could you give me some more details of theflat.
MrShah: It is a 1BHK flat, comfortable enough for at least four people. It is furnished with all the necessary
facilities and your rent will include the cost of using all ofthem.
Jeet: What is the monthly rent of the flat? Will I have to pay a securitydeposit?
MrShah: The security deposit is twenty thousand, and the monthly rent is fifteen thousand.
Jeet: If I take the house on rent, can I share it with one or two more people to ease myrent?
Mr Shah: You may, but you will have to inform me in advance about them and submit a copy of their identity
proof to me before they move in. It is needless to say that I will need your ID proof too.
Jeet: I understand that. Thank you for the information. I will call you back once I make up my mind.
Sample 3
Krisha: Rohan, did you sign up for the annual schoolplay?
Jiya: No,Ididn?t.Iwasoutoftownforafewdays.Whenwasthesignup?
Krisha: It was from Monday to Wednesday. You are a day late.
Jiya: Oh,that?sbadnews;Iwouldhavelovedtobeapartofit.
Krisha: Yes,Iknowhowmuchyoulovetoact.That?swhyIfounditoddwhenyoudidnotshowupfor theauditions.
Jiya: What can I do now? Do you think I should ask Miss Kumudini for a chance toaudition?
Krisha: Yes, you should. If you tell her your reason for being absent at the auditions she will surely give you a secondchance.
Jiya: Do you really thinkso?
Krisha: Everyone has seen you act so well all these years. I am sure there will be no one who thinks you do not deserveit.
Jiya: Thanks a lot, Krisha. I will go at once and speak to Miss Kumudini. Bye.
Krisha: Bye and all thebest.
Sample 4
Ravi: Hi Amit, Why do you look so sad? Did you lose something?
Amit: Yes! My pet dog Tommy has gone missing.
Ravi: When was the last time you saw him?
Amit: I saw him this morning when he went out for a stroll.
Ravi: Do you let him go alone?
Amit: Yes! He is a very smart dog. He always goes down to play with the children and
returns after awhile on his own. That is why I am so scared. You see he is of a very good breed.
Ravi: Do you believe someone must have stolen him? That could be a possibility.
Amit: I have considered that. We already made a police complaint?
Ravi: Amit, I am really sorry for your loss. Do let me know if you need any help.
Amit: Thanks a lot Ravi. I am glad that you are here for me.
Sample 5
Oldlady: Thankyoudearforyouhelp.Itisveryraretofindahelpinghandintoday?
sworld.Whatisyour name dear and where do youlive?
Girl: My name is Martha. I live in the yellow house down thislane.
Oldlady: So, you are the daughter of theMcArthurs.
Martha: Yes, I am. Do you know myparents?
Oldlady: Yes! Very well, I am Mrs Pears. I have known your parents since they got married and moved here.
They are the kindest couple known to live in this part of town. No wander you havethesamequalities.
IfI?mnotmistaken,youworkabroad,right?
Martha: Yes, I do. I came to visit my family after a long time. The place has changed quite alot since I last visited eight yearsago.
Oldlady: It sure has. Modernisation is coming down hard on our town too. I fear in a short while it may destroy our unique identity alltogether.
Martha: I do not believe so. As long as people like you and me value and nurture our ethnicculture, no external change can destroyit.
Oldlady: I like your spirit, Martha, and for your sake, I will hope for the better. I have to go now. Give my regards to yourparents.
Martha: I will. It was nice speaking to you. Goodbye.
Sample 6
Busconductor: Are you travelling alone, boy? Where are yourparents?
Raju: Yes, I am, and my name is not boy; it is Raju. My parents are busy working inthe farm.
Busconductor: So Raju, where are you going without them? Do your parents know that you are travellingalone?
Raju: Iamgoingtovisitmygrandparents.Idon?tthinktheywillmind.Itisnotveryfarandthey know I am a bigboy.
Busconductor: How are you so sure about it? You should have asked them before hopping onto any bus likethis.
Raju: Well,theymakemeworkinthefieldsjustliketheydo.Doesn?tthatmeanIam grown up too?
Besides, this is the same bus in which my mother goes to meetthem.
Busconductor: You need money to travel in this bus you know. Also, do you know the name of the place where your grandparents stay?
Raju: I know. Here, take these five rupees and give me a ticket to PabalNagar.
Busconductor: Here is your ticket. If you stand at the same spot two hours later, you can catch this same bus and return home. Be safeRaju.
Raju: Thank you for your concern. I will see you on my wayback.
Sample 7
First Teacher: Miss Joshi, How was your class, how is the new badge of students?
MissJoshi: MissLily,Theclassisgood.Thisyear?sstudentsareverybrightandenergetic.
MissLily: True. I too have observed a visible improvement in the mental strength of students over the years.
MissJoshi: The kind of exposure students receive today has greatly impacted their perceptionand graspinglevel.
MissLily: True,butdon?tyouthinkthiskindofexposureissimilartothrowingthembeforethesharks?
MissJoshi: These are harsh words. Why do you say so, MissLily?
Miss Lily: I agree that children learn many new things from the media. But they can also be negatively influenced by it.
As such tender age, they do not have the discerning power to judge what is right and wrong.
Miss Joshi: You are right to some extent. But that is where the role of parents and teachers comes in, doesn?tit?
Thatiswhatourjobsdemandofus.Itisourdutytoguidethemandhelpthem make the right decisions.
MissLily: Yes, I agree. Though the interference of the media has made our job even more complicated;
this is what we are called to do, and so, we have to work towards doing a good job. Thank you, Miss Joshi.
Your outlook towards life is veryrefreshing.
MissJoshi: You?remostwelcome.Ihavetogoformynextclassnow.I?llseeyouaround.Miss
Lily: Okaybye.
Sample 8
Aakash: HiOmkar!Whydidn?tyoucometoplayfootballthisweekend?
Omkar: I had gone to visit my brother with myfamily.
Aakash: OhhowisPuneet?It?sbeenalongtimesincehelastvisited.
Omkar: He is good. It was his birthday lastSaturday.
Aakash: So,didy?allhaveaparty?Didyougifthimanything?
Omkar: Yes, I got him a book which he was searching for since a long time.
Pinkey made origami flowers and a card for him. He loved all ofit.
Aakash: I?msurehedid.Iknowhowmuchhelovesyouall.
Omkar: We love him too. We stayed with him over the weekend.
Mom cooked his favourite foodand we had a smallparty.
Aakash: Sounds like you had a greattime.
Omkar: Yes. So much so, that Pinkey began to cry when it was time to return.
Aakash: I?mgladheiswell.Givehimmyregardswheneverhecalls.
Omkar: I?llassureyouIwill.Ihavetorushnow;I?llseeyouaroundlater.
Sample 9
Kajal: HiBeena!DidyoureceivealetterfromRohan?sschoolaskingforadonation?
Beena: Yes I did, I was going to ask you today itself; what have you thoughtabout?
Kajal: What is left to think? This is preposterous. Such blunt demand for donations isillegal.
Beena: Iagree,itisnottheparents?dutytofundfortheconstructionworkundertakenbythe school.
Kajal: Besides, the school already receives funds from the government for repairsand upgradation.
Beena: If it was a small amount it was understandable, but twenty five thousand? And what about those
parents who have more than one child studying in the same school. How will they affordit?
Kajal: True. But you see, there will still be people who will pay the amount, especially theones who arewealthy.
Beena: Such people do not realise that if they pay, the effort of everyone else who are against it will becomeirrelevant.
Kajal: We will still have to try. Someone has to speak to the school authorities and makethem realise the implications of thisdemand.
Beena: I am glad the PTA meeting is approaching soon. I will surely raise this issue there andvote against it.
I am surprised that the school made this decision without consulting thePTA.
Kajal: You are right. I will see you at the meeting this weekend then.Goodbye.
Beena: Goodbye.
Sample 10
Teacher: Meena did you submit your Historyproject.
Meena: NoMiss,Ihaven?t.Ihadjaundicelastmonth,andtherefore,Icouldn?tcompleteit.
Teacher: So how long will you take to completeit?
Meena: Miss, please give me an extension. I am working on it, but I need sometime.
Teacher: Meena since I know that you were seriously ill, I will give you time till this weekend. Icannot give you more time thanthat.
Meena: No Miss. This time is sufficient. I am extremely grateful for yourconsideration.
Teacher: You?rewelcome.Workhardanddoagoodjob.Iwillspeaktotheassistantprincipalandinform her. Anyway, what is the topic of yourproject?
Meena: Itis„WomenduringandaftertheSecondWorldWar?.
Teacher: Well, you have chosen a very good topic. I hope you do justice to it.
Meena: I?lltrymybestMiss.Thankyouonceagain.