5. Dialogue
Final Draft, Fade In, WriterSolo and WriterDuet: Dialogue
The Dialogue style is used for speech by actors who are: on camera, off-camera, or narrating.
See EXTENSIONS for more about off-screen (O.S.) or narrated (V.O.) dialogue.
Example
Length
Avoid using paragraph breaks in dialogue. If you feel like a paragraph break is needed, you might want to question why your character is talking so much. It may be justified if it's a monologue.
If a character is going to be the only one talking for a prolonged period, their dialogue can be broken up with some action or visual description.
Dialogue interrupted by action
When a character's dialogue is interrupted by an action line then they resume talking, a (CONT'D) is added to the character cue:
Example
There are a range of views on the use of character CONT'Ds. For example, TV shows may require them but films may not. By letting the software handle them, you can switch them on or off just by changing a setting.
In Final Draft, go to Document > Mores and Continueds, and check or uncheck "Automatic Character Continueds" to enable or disable character continueds.
Dialogue interrupted by dialogue
To indicate an interruption, use a space followed by two dashes at the end of the dialogue of the character who is being interrupted.
The dialogue of the character who is interrupting begins normally, i.e. without dashes.
Dialogue with a pause or hesitation
To indicate a pause or hesitation, within a block of dialogue, use an ellipsis (3 dots).
A pause can also be indicated using "pause" or "beat" in a parenthetical.
Dialogue trail-off
To indicate a trail-off at the end of a dialogue, use an ellipsis (3 dots).
Emphasis
If you need to emphasize a word or words, use underline. This should be used sparingly and only when the emphasis would not be obvious.
Do NOT use italics or bold.
Shouting (yelling, screaming)
For shouting, yelling, etc. you can write the dialogue or sounds all in caps (uppercase) or use a parenthetical indicating the character is shouting.
Or
Titles or brands
For titles or brands, put them in quotation marks.
Quoting
If the character's dialogue includes something quoted, enclose it in quotes.
Quotes are needed to make the following dialogue clear.
Reading aloud:
Multiple characters speaking same dialogue
If you have multiple characters speaking the same dialogue simultaneously, you can use slashes to divide their names.
Dual Dialogue
Dual dialogue is used when two characters talk at the same time.
To show dual dialogue:
It can also be used for characters talking in unison:
Formatting Dual Dialogue in Final Draft:
Formatting as Dual Dialogue
- Place the cursor in the first character name
- Select Format > Dual Dialogue
The 2 speeches will now display as Dual Dialogue.
Editing Dual Dialogue
- Click on the dialogue to edit.
The Dual Dialogue will change to the normal single-column format.
Do the edit then do the steps for "Formatting as Dual Dialogue."
Bilingual or Multilingual Dialogue
Ideally, a script should be written in a single language to allow it to be read by a unilingual reader.
1. A few words
If the dialogue's meaning or intent will be clear from the context, you can write a short snippet of dialogue in an alternate language.
2. A few lines
If there are only a few lines of dialogue that will be in an alternate language, you can use a parenthetical to indicate the language.
In this exchange, Béatrice speaks in French and James speaks in English.
3. A whole scene
If the whole scene will be in an alternate language, you can can note this in the scene description.
4. A whole script
If the whole script will be in a different language, you can can note this on page 1.
Sign Language
If the dialogue will be delivered in Sign Language, you can use the same techniques as listed above, specifying the type of Sign Language to use.
In this exchange, Béatrice signs in ASL and James speaks in English.
Subtitles
If necessary, you can indicate that there would be subtitles.
or
Mouthing words
If a character mouths some words, you could describe it in the action.
Singing
Singing lyrics can be approached a number of ways. In all cases, it is preferable to use the parenthetical “(singing)” since it makes it absolutely clear that the character has broken into song.
1. Put the lyrics in quotation marks.
2. Put the lyrics in caps.
Create a Lyrics element
If you will be using a lot of singing, in Final Draft, you can create a Lyrics element.
1. Go to Format > Elements
2. Click New
3. Call the new element Lyrics
4. Go through each tab setting -- Basic, Font, and Paragraph, and customize the new element's look and behavior (set them to paginate as dialogue)
5. Click OK
Page breaks: MORE & CONT'D
When a character's dialogue continues beyond the current page, (MORE) is added at the same alignment as the Character Name under the last printed line of dialogue.
Example
On the following page, above where the dialogue continues, the Character Name is added followed by (CONT'D).
Example
In Final Draft, how action and dialogue break across page breaks can be set using Tools > Options > Document > "Break dialogue and action at sentences"
With that option checked, the above example would become:
Revised: May 30, 2025
© 2007-2025 Ken Briscoe