Version at: 15/06/2021, 11:53

#How to Write Dialogues

Go back to [tatoeba.org](http://tatoeba.org).

##Why Write Dialogues

In order to provide context, sometimes single sentences are not enough.

Dialogues can also be used to show how non-sentences can be used as responses.

* [[#1431300](https://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/1431300)] "Is he lying?" "Obviously."
* [[#5401699](https://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/5401699)] "Can I join you?" "Sure."
* [[#6229650](https://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/6229650)] "Who was there?" "Only Tom."
* [[#6446394](https://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/6446394)] "How do you feel?" "Better."
* [[#4628683](https://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/4628683)] "Are you tired?" "Not really."

##Formatting Standards

**German.** Use the following format: 

* „Ich bin ganz stark erkältet.“ – „Das ist aber ärgerlich!“

The dash must be a dash (Alt + 0150), not a hyphen. It should ideally be preceded by a non-breaking space (Alt + 255). Alt codes for the opening and closing typographical quotation marks used in German are Alt + 0132 and Alt + 0147.

**English.** Put each speaker's statements with a pair of (double) quotes. We use "straight" quotes and not "curly" quotes on tatoeba.org. No dashes are used to show alternation between speakers.

* "I caught a bad cold. Now I feel terrible." "That's too bad."

**Esperanto.** You should use:

* „Mi ege malvarmumas.” – „Tio ja estas bedaŭrinda.”

**French.** You should use: 

* « Sentence 1. » « Sentence 2. »

On Windows, one can insert « with Alt + 174 and » with Alt + 175. A space should be inserted after and before the _guillemets_, ideally a non-breaking space (Alt + 255). There is no need to add a hyphen or a dash at the beginning of the sentences.

**Japanese**  - Put each sentence in quotes 「　」without 。 There is no additional space between these quotes 」「.

* 「悪い風邪を引きました」「それはいけませんね」

**Portuguese.**  You should use "SENTENCE 1" "SENTENCE 2"  (Same as English)

**Spanish.** You should use  "SENTENCE 1" "SENTENCE 2"  (Same as English)

**Swedish.** Use the following format: 

* ”Jag har dragit på mig en rejäl förkylning.” ”Men vad synd!”


##Other Languages

Most languages that use the quote character ("), are using the same standard in the Tatoeba Corpus as English does.

"SENTENCE 1" "SENTENCE 2"



## Reference

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-English_usage_of_quotation_marks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-English_usage_of_quotation_marks)

This might be a good guide. However, the Tatoeba Corpus has adopted "straight" quotes as the standard rather than "curly" quotes.

version at: 14/04/2022, 00:40

#How to Write Dialogues

Go back to [tatoeba.org](http://tatoeba.org).

##Why Write Dialogues

In order to provide context, sometimes single sentences are not enough.

Dialogues can also be used to show how non-sentences can be used as responses.

* [[#1431300](https://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/1431300)] "Is he lying?" "Obviously."
* [[#5401699](https://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/5401699)] "Can I join you?" "Sure."
* [[#6229650](https://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/6229650)] "Who was there?" "Only Tom."
* [[#6446394](https://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/6446394)] "How do you feel?" "Better."
* [[#4628683](https://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/4628683)] "Are you tired?" "Not really."

##Formatting Standards

**English.** Put each speaker's statements with a pair of (double) quotes. We use "straight" quotes and not "curly" quotes on tatoeba.org. No dashes are used to show alternation between speakers.

* "I caught a bad cold. Now I feel terrible." "That's too bad."


**German.** Use the following format: 

* „Ich bin ganz stark erkältet.“ – „Das ist aber ärgerlich!“

The dash must be a dash (Alt + 0150), not a hyphen. It should ideally be preceded by a non-breaking space (Alt + 255). Alt codes for the opening and closing typographical quotation marks used in German are Alt + 0132 and Alt + 0147.


**Esperanto.** You should use:

* „Mi ege malvarmumas.” – „Tio ja estas bedaŭrinda.”

**French.** You should use: 

* « Sentence 1. » « Sentence 2. »

On Windows, one can insert « with Alt + 174 and » with Alt + 175. A space should be inserted after and before the _guillemets_, ideally a non-breaking space (Alt + 255). There is no need to add a hyphen or a dash at the beginning of the sentences.

**Japanese**  - Put each sentence in quotes 「　」without 。 There is no additional space between these quotes 」「.

* 「悪い風邪を引きました」「それはいけませんね」

**Portuguese.**  You should use "SENTENCE 1" "SENTENCE 2"  (Same as English)

**Spanish.** You should use  "SENTENCE 1" "SENTENCE 2"  (Same as English)

**Swedish.** Use the following format: 

* ”Jag har dragit på mig en rejäl förkylning.” ”Men vad synd!” *


**Other Languages.**

Most languages that use the quote character ("), are using the same standard in the Tatoeba Corpus as English does.

"SENTENCE 1" "SENTENCE 2"



## Reference

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-English_usage_of_quotation_marks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-English_usage_of_quotation_marks)

This might be a good guide. However, the Tatoeba Corpus has adopted "straight" quotes as the standard rather than "curly" quotes.

Note

The lines in green are the lines that have been added in the new version. The lines in red are those that have been removed.

Actions

• History
• Revert to version made the 15/06/2021, 11:53
• Go back to article's page