What does CONT'D mean in a screenplay?

CONT'D, short for continued, appears after a character's name when the same character speaks again after an interruption by action, with no one else speaking in between. For example JOHN (CONT'D). It tells actors and readers this is the same speech carrying on.

An example

                    MAGGIE
          Forty years. Not once.

     A torch beam swings up the stairwell.

                    MAGGIE (CONT'D)
          Then we'd better give them
          something to steer by.

When to use it

Don't add it if another character speaks in between, or after a new scene heading.

CONT'D and (MORE)

There's a second, related use. When a speech is split across two pages, the first page ends with (MORE) under the dialogue, and the next page repeats the name with (CONT'D). Screenwriting software does this automatically when it paginates.

Is it still needed?

Some writers leave out the action-break CONT'D for a cleaner page, and that's a matter of taste. But it is still widely used and expected in many places, so using it consistently is the safe choice.

True-Script adds (CONT'D) for you, even when you're dictating your script out loud.

An example

Here a character's speech is interrupted by action and then carries on. Some writers add (CONT'D) after the name to show it is the same speech:

                    MARA
          I told you not to come up here.

She crosses to the window. The beam sweeps the rocks.

                    MARA (CONT'D)
          Not tonight. Not after last time.

CONT'D versus MORE

These two are often confused. (CONT'D) sits after a character name when the same person speaks again after a break in the same scene. (MORE) appears at the bottom of a page when a speech is split across a page break, and the next page continues with the character's name followed by (CONT'D). Most screenwriting software handles (MORE) automatically; you should never type it by hand.

Should you use CONT'D at all?

Opinion is genuinely split. Traditional shooting scripts use it consistently, because it helps actors and script supervisors see that a speech continues. Many modern spec scripts leave it out, because it adds clutter and the reader can see who is talking anyway. Either choice is fine as long as you are consistent. If you are writing for a particular production or competition, check whether they have a house style.

CONTINUOUS in scene headings

A related term, CONTINUOUS, appears in scene headings rather than after names. It means the action runs straight on from the previous scene with no time jump, for example when a character walks from the hall into the kitchen. It replaces DAY or NIGHT in the heading: INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS. Use it only when the continuity is important; otherwise a normal time of day is clearer.

Letting the app handle it

Manually tracking CONT'D is tedious and easy to get wrong when you move scenes around. When you dictate, True-Script adds it automatically when the same character speaks again after an action line, and when a speech runs over a page break the continuation is marked for you in the page layout. You can always delete it if you prefer a cleaner spec style.

Common questions

Do I need to write CONT'D?

It isn't compulsory, but it is still widely used. If you use it, use it consistently whenever the same character speaks again after only action.

What is the difference between (MORE) and CONT'D?

(MORE) goes at the bottom of a page when a speech continues onto the next page; CONT'D goes after the name where the speech picks up again.

Does CONT'D count towards page length?

Only slightly. It is a few characters on a line that already exists, so it has almost no effect on the one-page-per-minute estimate.

Is CONT'D used in TV scripts?

Yes, it appears in many TV scripts, especially multi-camera sitcoms, which have their own formatting conventions. Check the show's existing scripts if you are writing a spec episode.

Related guides