Parentheticals
What parentheticals are for, when to use them, and when to trust the dialogue instead. A short guide to the most overused element in screenwriting.
What a parenthetical is
A parenthetical is a short note on how a line is delivered, placed under the character name and above the dialogue. "(quietly)" or "(to herself)" or "(beat)."
Use them sparingly
Parentheticals are seasoning, not the meal. Too many and the script reads like the writer doesn't trust the actor. Trust the dialogue to carry the tone. Save parentheticals for moments where the delivery genuinely changes the meaning.
What they're for
- A shift in tone: "(deadpan)" when the line could read as sincere
- A direction: "(to the room)" when it's not clear who's being addressed
- A beat: "(beat)" for a deliberate pause
What they're not for
Don't use a parenthetical to describe action. "John walks to the window" is action, not a parenthetical. Don't use them to dictate emotion the actor should bring. "(sadly)" is usually unnecessary if the dialogue is written well.
Format
In Scene Forges, type a character name, press Enter, type the parenthetical in parentheses, press Enter, and type the dialogue. Or press Tab to cycle to Parenthetical directly.
Try it yourself.
Open Scene Forges and practice this directly in the screenplay editor.