> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://brookevitale.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # How to Format Dialogue in a Story: 10 Dialogue Rules to Follow - URL: https://brookevitale.com/blog/how-to-format-dialogue/ - Published: 2022-07-11T11:28:52.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-09T20:14:48.000Z - Description: From where to put punctuation in dialogue to when to open and close quotation marks, learn all you need to know about properly formatting dialogue in a story. - Author: Andrew Vitale - Tags: Writing ## Why is it important to format dialogue? Writing dialogue is an essential part of writing almost any book. Whether picture book, middle grade, or thriller, chances are that if a book contains characters, at some point they will speak. For many authors, writing dialogue comes easy, while for others it is a challenge. Regardless of which kind of author you are, I’d be willing to bet that at some point you questioned the proper formatted of your dialogue. And it’s no wonder. Formatting dialogue can be tricky. Does the period go inside or outside the quote marks? What if you’re quoting someone else within in a character’s dialogue? And when do you capitalize the text at the start of a speech? With so many questions, it can be tempting to just do your best and move on—to let the reader figure it out, or to assume an editor will catch the mistakes. But the truth is, understanding and following the rules of dialogue shows a level of professionalism that both readers and editors appreciate. It shows that an author has taken the time to learn their craft: not just how to tell a story but how to tell it properly. So let’s dive in! ## What are the top 10 dialogue rules? ### 1\. Set speech in double quotation marks While formatting on thoughts can be ambiguous, formatting on dialogue is not. Anything a character says aloud should be enclosed in double quotation marks. ***Example:*** ***“Come on, Sally. Let’s go.”*** ### 2\. Dialogue tags stay outside of the quotation marks. A dialogue tag attributes speech to a character. It is not part of the actual speech. As such, the dialogue tag stays outside the quotation marks. ***Example:*** ***“Come on, Sally. Let’s go,” Kevin said.*** When a dialogue tag precedes the dialogue, a comma should be used before the opening quotation mark. ***Example:*** ***Kevin said, “Let’s go, Sally.”*** ### 3\. Punctuation for speech stays within the quotation marks When dialogue ends with either a question mark or an exclamation point, the punctuation stays within the quotation marks. When dialogue ends with a period, the period is replaced by a comma. In all cases, the dialogue tag that follows begins with a lowercase letter and ends with a period. ***Example:*** ***“Come on, Sally. Let’s go!” said Kevin.*** ***“When can we go, Sally?” asked Kevin.*** ***Kevin asked, “When can we go?”*** > Pro tip: Exclamation points and question marks should never appear after a dialogue tag. Punctuation is meant to modify the actual speech, not the way it is said. ### 4\. Actions get their own sentence Attributing dialogue with tags on every line can get cumbersome. One way around this is to set up who is going to speak with an action before their dialogue. In such cases, the action should get its own sentence. ***Example:*** ***Kevin shook his head. “When can we go, Sally?”*** By showing Kevin shaking his head immediately before he speaks, the reader can infer that the next line comes from him. ### 5\. Quoting within dialogue Often characters will quote someone else’s words. Using another set of quotation marks within their speech can appear confusing, especially if there is any question of whether the next set of quotation marks is actually functioning as the end of their speech. Instead, use single quotation marks within the double quotation marks. ***Example:*** ***“When you said, ‘Be there at 8!’ I thought you’d be on time,” Kevin said.*** ### 6\. Quotation marks for long dialogue It’s tempting to put a closing quotation mark at the end of every paragraph, but if a character’s speech runs over multiple paragraphs, that would be misleading. After all, they aren’t done speaking. Instead, begin each paragraph with an opening quotation mark to remind readers that someone is speaking. Do not include a closing quotation mark until the speech is complete. ***Example:*** ***“I want to go, Sally,” Kevin said. “I’ve been waiting all morning. I don’t understand why you can’t just leave the house on time.*** ***“I mean, let’s be honest. It’s not as if there’s that much to do. Put on shoes, grab your purse, and let’s go. But no, you have to find the right shoes, and the right purse.*** ***“I tell you, the waiting is enough to drive a person mad!”*** > Pro Tip: Although it looks odd, this rule applies to picture books as well. In the case of dialogue running over multiple pages, use opening quotes at the start of each page, but do not close the quotes until the speech is done. ### 7\. Start a new paragraph each time a new character speaks It’s not uncommon to see authors run dialogue together into one big paragraph, but reading it in that way can get confusing. Instead, give each characters’ words their own space by starting a new paragraph each time someone new starts talking. ***Example:*** ***“When can we go, Sally?” Kevin asked.*** ***“In a minute,” Sally called.*** ### 8\. Continue interrupted speech with a lowercase letter When a dialogue tag comes between two sentences, the second sentence will begin with a capital letter. But when the dialogue tag comes in the middle of the sentence, the second half of the speech should continue in lowercase. In these cases, the first part of the sentence should end with a comma, and another comma should follow the dialogue tag. ***Example:*** ***“Come on, Sally,” Kevin said. “Let’s go.”*** ***“I want to go,” Kevin said, “but I’m still waiting for Sally.”*** ### 9\. Use an em-dash to indicate interruption It’s not uncommon for characters in a novel to interrupt each other. But how can you make it clear to a reader that a sentence has been cut off? By using an em-dash at the end of the speech. Note that the em-dash goes inside the quotation marks. ***Example:*** ***“Sally,” Kevin said, “I really want to—”*** ***“Not now,” Sally interrupted. “I’m on a call.”*** ### 10\. Use an ellipsis to indicate speech trailing off Often characters finishing speaking in a less than definitive way. To indicate that a character’s speech is trailing off, end with an ellipsis inside the quotation marks. No additional punctuation is needed when ending with an ellipsis. ***Example:*** ***“We were going to the beach,” Kevin said, “but then Sally got a call, and the dog ate her shoes, and, well . . .”*** > Pro Tip: Ellipses should be written as three periods with a space between each one. Want to learn more about how write effective dialogue? [Check out 5 Tips to Write Dialogue Effectively](https://brookevitale.com/blog/how-to-use-dialogue-tags/). And for more information on how to format your whole book, don’t forget [How to Format a Book Manuscript: A Complete Guide](https://brookevitale.com/blog/how-to-format-a-manuscript/).