What is a Dialogue?

A dialogue is a conversation between two people. The word comes from the Greek roots:

• “Di” meaning two
• “Logue” meaning talk

So, a dialogue is simply a talk between two individuals. It is a basic feature of drama writing and helps to portray how characters speak and interact naturally.

Why Do We Write Dialogues?

Dialogue writing is important because:

• It helps in developing spoken English skills.
• It improves understanding of realistic communication.
• It enhances creative writing and expression.
• It is useful for writing plays, stories, and scripts.

How is a Dialogue Written?

Here are the key principles of writing effective dialogue:

1. Use everyday spoken expressions, not formal or bookish language.
2. Include contractions and abbreviations like I’m, won’t, can’t, it’s, I’ll, etc.
3. Use exclamations to show emotions: Wow!, Really!, That’s great! Superb!
4. Often, use phrases instead of full sentences to sound natural.
5. Dialogue should be realistic, relevant, and to the point.
6. Characters should show awareness of their topic or situation.
7. Keep it concise – usually around 150–500 words for school-level dialogues.
8. Always make sure your dialogue is:
   • Conversational
   • Focused on one topic
   • Correctly punctuated
   • Easy to follow

Sample Dialogue

Dialogue between Two Friends About Time:

A: What’s the time?
B: It’s nine o’clock.
A: Oh! I’m getting late for school.
B: Better hurry then. See you later!
A: Bye!