Dialog vs Dialogue | Difference & Spelling
The spelling of dialog/dialogue is more to do with context than differences in American English and British English, although some differences are linked to geographical location.
- The predominant use for dialog is in the context of computer user interfaces and almost always in the compound noun “dialog box.”
- Dialogue is typically used when referring to a conversation between characters in a scripted work.
One of the features of Harold Pinter’s plays is how sparse some of the dialogue can be, with few words and many pauses.
In HTML code, a simple <dialog> tag will create a dialog box on your page.
Dialog or dialogue?
Dialog is virtually unknown in British English except in computing, whereas in American English it is also used instead of dialogue, but this spelling is much less common.
Dialogue is a noun that describes a conversation or interaction between two or more people. Like “monolog/monologue” it comes from the Greek word λόγος [logos] meaning “word.”
Dialogue can also be a verb, meaning “conduct a dialogue with” or “talk with” (e.g., “I was dialoguing with the sales team only yesterday”).
| American English | British English |
|---|---|
| There’s an art to designing a dialog box that is both functional and attractive. | There’s an art to designing a dialog box that is both functional and attractive. |
| In conflict situations, it is important to make every effort to maintain dialogue/dialog between the parties. | In conflict situations, it is important to make every effort to maintain dialogue between the parties. |
Dialog box or dialogue box?
In both American English and British English, dialog is the correct spelling for the compound noun dialog box, meaning a pop-up window in the computer interface that gives information and/or requests input from the user.
- Disk: The more common British English spelling is “disc” except when referring to “hard disc” or “floppy disc.”
- Program: Apart from when it refers to computing, the British English spelling is programme. This is true of the printed information about a schedule of events, a television show, and the verb meaning “schedule.”
Frequently asked questions about dialog vs dialogue
- Is dialog box correct in British English?
-
Yes, dialog box is the correct spelling in both British English and American English for the pop-up window that appears in a computer application to communicate information to the user.
For all other uses of the word, it is spelled dialogue in British English. In American English, dialog is an accepted (but less common) variant of dialogue.
The QuillBot Grammar Checker has regional language settings, so you can make sure you have the correct spelling of dialog/dialogue.
