Spell check says "dialogue" is wrong. It says "dialog" is okay. On the other hand, it says "monologue" is the correct spelling for a single person speaking, so now I'm just confused. Wikipedia says either is correct. What's the common spelling?
Dialog or dialogue?
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Seeing 'dialog' just absolutely bothers me. It seems so wrong. But that's just 'cause I grew up with 'dialogue', I guess. I would never in a million years use 'dialog' in my writing, unless there was some specific reason I absolutely had to...and no such reason is coming to mind.
Neither will get your MS rejected or anything, though, I'm sure.
Neither will get your MS rejected or anything, though, I'm sure.
dpaterso
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Shock horror, my dictionary says dialog is the US spelling and dialogue is the UK spelling! What to do?!
-Derek
-Derek
Even worse - I do believe you're agreeing with my earlier post!
Teh end of teh worldz is nigh!
*awaits chorus of "What, right nigh?"*
The first person who finds the correct quote and the author of: two countries separated by a common language will be rewarded by my undying devotion.
If you're a Brit, write British English. If you're an American, write American English etc.
Neither one is better than the other.
If you're a Brit, write British English. If you're an American, write American English etc.
Neither one is better than the other.
George Bernard Shaw, although he didn't give his source material so may have been claiming originality. Wilde also said something similar. Rep points to the usual address.
dpaterso
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And old Winnie Churchill liked to quote it often, too.
I dunno what "undying devotion" means, but I'm keeping my trousers on, missus.
-Derek
I dunno what "undying devotion" means, but I'm keeping my trousers on, missus.
-Derek
I'm American and I always write it dialogue. I also write grey instead of gray. My rule is just be consistent.
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I have a pet theory that its becoming more of a generational issue, then a locational one. (Okay, I made up locational...)
I think if you are older, you are more likely to use the Brit/European spellings. (I still use colour, honour, theatre...) Younger writers tend to use the American spellings.
And then there is "AdSpell" -Nite, Site, Rite, left over from billboards and texting... for an even younger generation.
I think if you are older, you are more likely to use the Brit/European spellings. (I still use colour, honour, theatre...) Younger writers tend to use the American spellings.
And then there is "AdSpell" -Nite, Site, Rite, left over from billboards and texting... for an even younger generation.
If I saw any Brit youngster spelling the American way, I would soon point it out to them. 
"I personally believe the U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some...people out there in our nation don’t have maps, and, uh, I believe that our education like such as South Africa and, uh, the Iraq everywhere like, such as and...I believe that they should, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., err, uh, South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future for our..."
Consistent? Looks to me like you're just being consistent with those other folks across the pond!
I'm fairly sure I live in the United States and I've always thought dialogue was correct. On the other hand, Word Perfect kept telling me i was wrong so I got in the habit of curbing it the other way. Didn't know it was regional, though. Interesting stuff. I'm not using the word in my manuscript (not that I have one) so no problems there, but I do use it here quite a bit so, you know, might as well get to know it better.
Thanks for the responses--even the smart-ass ones.
Thanks for the responses--even the smart-ass ones.
Fascinating as ever, fellow AWers. Thank you. I always thought that all Americans wrote gray and dialog etc. Just proves how wrong national stereotypes can be. What about color/colour?
And don't worry, dpaterso, my devotion is purely platonic. Anyway, it's too cold where I am to remove any clothing.
And don't worry, dpaterso, my devotion is purely platonic. Anyway, it's too cold where I am to remove any clothing.
Nope, no 'u' in color. I also use both grey and gray, since they are different colors. Grey has a bluer tinge to it.
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