Before writing dialogue for an essay, every writer should know what dialogue is. Dialogue can be most aptly defined as a technique most commonly used by the writers, whereby they try to portray the conversation carried on between two or more people. However, the use of dialogue is prevalent in many other forms of fiction too, such as movies, books, plays and even ESSAYS too!


However, dialogue cannot be confused with quotes as is the common misconception among writers. Dialogue is generally used to create more realistic effects. However, direct quotes can always be verified through the citations or sources where they have been taken from.

Dialogue can be used in the following ways:

1- Direct Dialogue:

Here, the character’s exact words are being used with quotation marks. However, a few rules must be followed such as, only the words being said by the character must be put in quotation marks.

2- Indirect Dialogue:

Here, second hand reporting is being done about something said or written by someone, but it’s not in the original form.
Dialogues are generally used in narrative essays, where they are most effective. Because, when you are writing a narrative essay, you are telling a story. The reader can be easily confused unless it’s obvious as to who is doing the talking and to who. Using dialogue properly enables the reader to easily follow how the story is taking place.

A narrative essay uses dialogue likeits used in the fiction – novels. Dialogues help advance the plot or the storyline that is being told and add depth to the words being written.

It is quite imperative for a writer to know how quotations and punctuation can be used correctly. They can make it easier for the reader to read and understand the writer’s essay.