What is a parenthetical in a screenplay?

A parenthetical, sometimes called a wryly, is a short note in brackets under a character name that shows how a line is delivered or who it is addressed to, such as (whispering) or (to Tom). It is written in lower case on its own line and should be used sparingly.

Where it goes

Between the character name and the dialogue, indented about 1.5 inches from the left margin, in lower case:

                    MAGGIE
              (under her breath)
          Forty years. Not once.

Good uses

• When the meaning would otherwise be misread: (sarcastic) on a line that reads as sincere.
• When it isn't clear who is being spoken to: (to Tom).
• For a very small action that happens mid-speech: (pocketing the fuse).

Bad uses

• Telling the actor how to feel on every line. Actors and directors dislike it, and it clutters the page.
• Long actions; those belong in an action line.

Rule of thumb

If the dialogue already makes the tone clear, delete the parenthetical. Most professional scripts have only a handful per scene.

When dictating in True-Script, say "parenthetical" and then the note, and it's placed and bracketed for you.

What parentheticals are for

A parenthetical, sometimes called a wryly, is a short direction placed in brackets under a character's name. It has three legitimate jobs: showing who a line is addressed to when that isn't obvious, giving a small piece of action that happens during the line, and flagging a reading the actor could not possibly guess from the words alone, such as sarcasm that reads as sincere on the page.

                    TOM
               (to the dog)
          Not you. Him.

                    MARA
               (pocketing the key)
          Fine. Stay, then.

When not to use them

The most common mistake is using parentheticals to tell actors how to feel: (angrily), (sadly), (with a smile). If the line and the situation are well written, the emotion should be obvious, and actors tend to resent being told. A page full of parentheticals also signals to a reader that the writer doesn't trust the dialogue. As a rough guide, if you have more than one or two per page, look again.

Formatting rules

• Lower case, inside round brackets, on its own line between the character name and the dialogue, or between two lines of the same speech.
• Keep it to a few words. If you need a whole sentence, it is probably an action line instead.
• Never end a speech with a parenthetical. If something happens after the line, write it as action.
• Don't put a full stop at the end, and don't capitalise the first word unless it's a name.

Common useful parentheticals

A few appear in professional scripts again and again because they solve real problems: (beat) for a deliberate pause inside a speech, (V.O.) and (O.S.) which technically sit next to the name rather than below it (see V.O. vs O.S.), (into phone), (in French) when a line is spoken in another language, and (re: the letter) to point at the object being discussed.

Parentheticals in True-Script

When you dictate, say "parenthetical" followed by the direction and True-Script places it correctly under the current speaker. When you use Table Read, parentheticals are skipped, so you hear the dialogue as an audience would; if a line only works because of the parenthetical, that is often a sign it needs rewriting.

Common questions

Related guides

• How do you write good dialogue in a screenplay?
• What does CONT'D mean in a screenplay?
• How do you format a screenplay?