What is a Dialogue?

A dialogue is when two people talk to each other about something they both know and care about. It’s like sharing your thoughts and ideas on a topic or problem. In a dialogue, you can either try to agree on something or explain why you think differently.

Format of a Dialogue
A dialogue doesn’t have a strict set of rules, but there are some things to remember when writing one so it’s not confusing:

• Use quotation marks when people are talking without saying who is talking.

Example: “I have an appointment today.”  “What time is it?”

• If you want to say who is speaking, use words like “he said” or “she replied.”

Example: “I do not trust that man,” he said.

• If you start a sentence with who is speaking, put a comma after it.

Example: She said, “This is the clue we were looking for.”

• When you know who is talking, write their name followed by a colon (:).

Example: Rita: How may I help you?
.             Mr. Rao: Could you tell me the way to the boardroom?

• Start a new line when a different person starts speaking.

Example: Mother: What time will you be back?
.                         Sara: The class will get over by 4, so I should be home by 4.30.
.                    Mother: I may not be at home when you come, but I will make some snacks for you before leaving.

Tips for Writing a Dialogue

Here are some tips for writing a conversation in a story:

• Keep it simple and natural. Don’t use complicated sentences.
• Make sure what the characters say is easy to understand.
• Plan out the main things you want to say in the conversation.
• Put your ideas in a logical order. Don’t jump around too much, or it might not make sense.

Sample Dialogues

Sample 1

 

Mahesh: Excuse me, sir.
Rohan: Hi! How can I help you?

Mahesh: Can you tell me which railway station is closest?
Rohan: Of course! The Grant Road railway station is the closest one from here.

Mahesh: Great. How do I get there?
Rohan: It’s easy. Just walk straight for about ten minutes. You will come to a traffic signal. At the signal, you will see a little park in the middle of the road.

Mahesh: What should I do after that?
Rohan: Cross the road and take the small street with Irani hotels on both sides. Keep walking for another two         minutes, and you will find the railway station.

Mahesh: Thanks a lot, sir. You have been really helpful. Have a good day!
Rohan: You are welcome! May you have a great day too!

Sample 2

Jeet: Hello! Is this Mr. Raman Shah?
Mr. Shah: Yes, who’s calling?

Jeet: Hi, Sir. I’m Jeet. I saw your ad about a room for rent in today’s newspaper, and I’d like to know more about it.
Mr. Shah: Oh, yes! I have an extra apartment I want to rent out.

Jeet: The apartment you mentioned, where is it exactly? Is it close to the train station?
Mr. Shah: It’s on the second floor of Pravin Apartments, just a short two to three-minute walk from Santa Cruz railway station.

Jeet: Alright, can you tell me more about the apartment?
Mr. Shah: It’s a 1-bedroom flat, big enough for at least four people. It comes with all the necessary furniture and appliances, and your rent covers the use of all of them.

Jeet: What’s the monthly rent, and do I need to pay a security deposit?
Mr. Shah: The security deposit is twenty thousand, and the monthly rent is fifteen thousand.

Jeet: If I rent the place, can I share it with one or two more people to split the rent?
Mr. Shah: Yes, you can, but you’ll need to let me know in advance about your roommates and provide their ID proof before they move in. I’ll also need your ID proof.

Jeet: Got it. Thanks for the information. I’ll give you a call once I decide.

Sample 3

Krisha: Rohan, did you sign up for the annual schoolplay?
Jiya:No, I didn’t. I was out of town for a few days. When was the signup?

Krisha: It was from Monday to Wednesday. You are a day late.
Jiya: Oh, that’s bad news; I would have loved to be apart of it.

Krisha: Yes, I know how much you love to act. That’s why I found it odd when you did not show up for the             auditions.

Jiya: What can I do now? Do you think I should ask Miss Kumudini for a chance to audition?
Krisha: Yes, you should. If you tell her your reason for being absent at the auditions she will surely give you a second chance.

Jiya: Do you really think so?
Krisha: Everyone has seen you act so well all these years. I am sure there will be no one who thinks you do not deserve it.

Jiya:  Thanks a lot, Krisha. I will go at once and speak to Miss Kumudini. Bye.
Krisha:  Bye and all the best.

Sample 4

Ravi:                Hey Amit, why do you look so down? Did you lose something?
Amit:                Yeah, my pet dog Tommy is missing.

Ravi:                When did you last see him?
Amit:                I saw him this morning when he went out for a walk.

Ravi:                Do you let him go out by himself?
Amit:                Yeah, he’s a really clever dog. He usually goes to play with the kids and comes back on his
.                         own. That’s why I’m so worried. He’s from a good breed.

Ravi:                Do you think someone might have taken him? That’s a possibility.
Amit:                I’ve thought about that. We’ve already reported it to the police.

Ravi:                Amit, I’m really sorry to hear that. If you need any help, just let me know.
Amit:                Thanks a lot, Ravi. I appreciate your support.

Sample 5

Old Lady:                    Thank you, dear, for your help. It’s rare to find a helping hand in today’s world. What’s your    .                                        name, dear, and where do you live?
Girl (Martha):          I’m Martha, and I live in the yellow house down this street.

Old Lady:                     Ah, you must be the daughter of the McArthurs.
Martha:                        Yes, I am. Do you know my parents?

Old Lady:                    Oh, yes, very well. I’m Mrs. Pears. I’ve known your parents since they got married and moved                                             here. They are the kindest couple in this part of town. No wonder you have the same qualities.                                          If I’m not mistaken, you work abroad, right?
Martha:                       Yes, I do. I came to visit my family after a long time. The place has changed a lot since I last n                                            visited eight years ago.

Old Lady:                    It certainly has. Modernization is making its mark on our town too. I fear it might erase our                                                unique identity soon.
Martha:                       I don’t think so. As long as people like you and me value and cherish our cultural traditions,                                              no  outside change can destroy it.

Old Lady:                    I like your spirit, Martha. I’ll hope for the best, for your sake. I have to go now. Please give my                                         regards to your parents.
Martha:                        I will. It was nice talking to you. Goodbye.

Sample 6

Bus Conductor: Are you traveling alone, young man? Where are your parents?
Raju: Yes, I am, and my name isn’t “Young Man”; it’s Raju. My parents are busy working on the farm.

Bus Conductor: So, Raju, where are you going without them? Do your parents know you’re traveling alone?
Raju: I’m going to visit my grandparents. I don’t think they’ll mind. It’s not very far, and they know I’m a big boy.

Bus Conductor: How are you so sure about that? You should have asked them before getting on any bus like this.
Raju: Well, they make me work in the fields just like they do. Doesn’t that mean I’m grown up too? Besides, this is the same bus my mother takes to visit them.

Bus Conductor: You need money to travel on this bus, you know. Also, do you know the name of the place where                                        your grandparents live?
Raju: I know. Here, take these five rupees and give me a ticket to Pabal Nagar.

Bus Conductor: Here’s your ticket. If you wait at the same spot two hours later, you can catch this same bus and                                      go  back home. Stay safe, Raju.
Raju: Thanks for caring. I’ll see you on my way back.

Sample 7

First Teacher: Miss Joshi, how was your class, and what do you think of the new group of students?
Miss Joshi: Miss Lily, the class is great. This year’s students are very smart and full of energy.

Miss Lily: True. I’ve also noticed that students have been getting better and smarter over the years.
Miss Joshi: The kind of information students get these days has a big impact on how they think and learn.

Miss Lily: True, but don’t you think this kind of information is like throwing them into a difficult situation?
Miss Joshi: Those are strong words. Why do you think so, Miss Lily?

Miss Lily: I agree that kids learn many new things from the internet, but it can also have a negative influence on them. At such a young age, they can’t always tell right from wrong.
Miss Joshi: You have a point. But that’s where the role of parents and teachers comes in, doesn’t it? It’s our job to guide them and help them make good choices.

Miss Lily: Yes, I agree. Even though the internet makes our job more complicated, this is what we’re here for, and we need to do it well. Thank you, Miss Joshi. Your perspective on life is refreshing.
Miss Joshi: You’re welcome. I have to go to my next class now. I’ll see you later.

Miss Lily: Okay, bye!

Sample 8

Aakash: Hi, Omkar! Why didn’t you come to play football this weekend?
Omkar: I went to visit my brother with my family.

Aakash: How’s Puneet? It’s been a while since he last visited.
Omkar: He’s good. It was his birthday last Saturday.

Aakash: Did you guys have a party? Did you give him a gift?
Omkar: Yes, I got him a book he’d been wanting for a long time. Pinkey made origami flowers and a card for him. He loved it all.

Aakash: I’m sure he did. I know how much he loves your family.
Omkar: We love him too. We stayed with him over the weekend. Mom cooked his favorite food, and we had a small party.

Aakash: Sounds like you had a great time.
Omkar: Yes, we did. So much so that Pinkey started crying when it was time to leave.

Aakash: I’m glad he’s doing well. Send my best wishes when he calls.
Omkar: I promise I will. I have to go now; I’ll see you later.

Sample 9

Kajal: Hey Beena, did you get that letter from Rohan’s school asking for a donation?
Beena: Yes, I did. I was going to ask you about it today. What are you thinking?

Kajal: What’s there to think about? This is ridiculous. Demanding donations like this is not right, and it might even be illegal.
Beena: I agree. It’s not the parents’ responsibility to fund the school’s construction projects.

Kajal: And the school already gets money from the government for repairs and upgrades.
Beena: If it were a small amount, maybe, but twenty-five thousand? What about parents with more than one child in the same school? How will they afford it?

Kajal: You’re right. But there will still be people who can pay, especially those who are wealthy.
Beena: These people might not realize that if they pay, it makes the efforts of everyone else who’s against it meaningless.

Kajal: We still have to try. Someone needs to talk to the school authorities and make them understand the consequences of this demand.
Beena: I’m glad the PTA meeting is coming up soon. I’ll definitely bring up this issue and vote against it. I’m surprised the school made this decision without consulting the PTA.

Kajal: You’re absolutely right. See you at the meeting this weekend. Goodbye.
Beena: Goodbye.

Sample 10

Teacher: Meena, have you turned in your History project?
Meena: No, Miss, I haven’t. I had jaundice last month, so I couldn’t finish it.

Teacher: How much more time do you need to complete it?
Meena: Miss, could you please give me an extension? I’m working on it, but I need a little more time.

Teacher: Meena, knowing that you were very sick, I’ll give you until this weekend. I can’t extend the deadline further.
Meena: No, Miss. This time is enough. I really appreciate your understanding.

Teacher: You’re welcome. Work hard and do your best. I’ll talk to the assistant principal and let her know. By the way, what’s your project about?
Meena: It’s about “Women during and after the Second World War.”

Teacher: That’s a great topic you’ve chosen. I hope you do it justice.
Meena: I’ll do my best, Miss. Thanks again.