dialogue tab..at 2.5" or 3"?!?!

[evolution]

I've seen various format guides either giving 2.5 inches from the left hand edge or 3 inches from the LHE as the point at which dialogue can begin.

Now which is the dominating tab here? because 2.5 really looks wrong and says "I'm cheap and saving space." However...is it acceptable?

[MacG]

If you're using plain ol' Microsoft Word, tab in twice. (So I guess that's two inches, yeah?)

[Deus Ex Machine]

Tabbing twice (.5 per tab) takes you in one inch from the left margin. Since the left margin is set at 1.5 inches that means the dialogue would be at 2.5 from the left edge of the paper.


I like to use 2.5 for right and left dialogue margins.

Other's like to use 3 for the left and 2.5 for the right dialogue margins.

It doesn't matter which you use.

[ComicBent]

Don't do "tabbing" to create Dialogue in Word. If you are using any version since at least Word 97, you can create a template that has paragraph styles that handle formatting much more efficiently than "tabbing" over.

These templates are available all over the web.

If you want one but cannot find one, send me Private Message.

Also, there is just no compelling reason to use a left margin for Dialogue that is greater than the usually recommended 2.5" from the left paper edge.

[David]

If your looking for Microsoft Word screenplay templates, then this is probably of some use:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scriptsmart/

DavidG.