GlossaryPage elements
Dual dialogue
Also: simultaneous dialogue · side-by-side dialogue
Dual dialogue is the formatting used when two characters speak at the same time, with their lines set in two side-by-side columns. It signals that the speeches overlap rather than alternate — useful for arguments, interruptions, and crowd moments where simultaneity is the point.
Dual dialogue (or simultaneous dialogue) places two character cues and their lines in parallel columns so the reader sees the overlap at a glance. It is the format equivalent of two people talking over each other.
It is a tool to use sparingly: it is harder to read than sequential dialogue, so it earns its place only when the overlap itself matters to the scene.