Screenwriting Terms — Abbreviations, Definitions & Vocab

Screenplay Terms and Abbreviations 

Note on screenwriting terms

This article is separated into two sections: screenplay terms and shooting script terms. The former includes all of the terms you need to know if you’re planning on writing a spec script or you’re planning on passing the script off to a director. The latter includes all of the terms you need to know to turn the screenplay into an actionable production.

With that note out of the way, let’s jump into some screenwriting terms!

Glossary of Screenwriting Terms

Action

Action refers to any time something happens outside of dialogue. For example: if two characters are having a conversation, then one drops their drink, the action would read: “so-and-so drops their drink.”

This “action” example is taken from the Mission: Impossible screenplay:

Screenwriting Terms and Definitions

Beat

A story beat is a structural element of a narrative that’s meant to mark a story-pause or a shift in tone. Story beats are written into screenplays as “BEAT” or “A BEAT” either inside a parenthetical or outside of dialogue.

Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat! template shows us how to break down scripts into 15 narrative beats. Check out our video essay on the 15 key story beats in Avengers: Infinity War below:

Screenplay Terms and Abbreviations

Character

This character introduction example is taken from one of Paul Thomas Anderson’s best movies: There Will Be Blood:

Script Writing Abbreviations

(CONT’D)

(CONT’D) is an abbreviation of “continued” and it's used to suggest that a character is still speaking regardless of the action going on around them. So whenever a character is speaking and an action occurs, if no other character speaks before them, then their next line of dialogue should have (CONT’D) next to their name. 

This (CONT’D) example is taken from Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird screenplay:

Glossary of Screenwriting Terms

Dash

Dashes are used in and out of dialogue to suggest that someone or something is being interrupted before they’re finished. Dashes can also be used stylistically to generate flow.

This “dash” example is taken from an iconic scene in Robert Towne’s Chinatown screenplay:

Screenwriting Terms and Definitions

Dialogue

Dialogue is a conversation between two or more characters. The term is derived from the Greek dialogos (conversation); rooted in dia (through) and logos (speech, reason). 

This video from Nerdwriter1 breaks down “what realistic film dialogue sounds like” by analyzing Noah Baumbach’s The Meyerowitz Stories.

Screenplay Abbreviations List

Ellipsis

Ellipses, or dot-dot-dots, are used to communicate a trailing thought in dialogue. As opposed to dashes, ellipses imply that there should be a pause before the next action or spoken line of dialogue.

This example is taken from one of Alfred Hitchcock’s best movies: Psycho:

Script Writing Abbreviations

EXT.

EXT. stands for exterior; or when any shot takes place outside. Either INT. or EXT. is always used in a slugline.

This (exterior) example is taken from the Warrior screenplay:

Screenwriting Language Explained

Flashback

A flashback is when a story goes back in time to reveal a key moment that’s needed to explain current events. When considering writing a flashback in a screenplay, just make sure that the detour ties directly to the plot, characters, or themes of the story.

This flashback is taken from The Godfather: Part II when Michael reflects back on a pivotal moment in his life.

Script Writing Abbreviations

INT. 

INT. stands for interior; or when any shot takes place inside. Either INT. or EXT. is always used in a slugline.

This (interior) example is taken from the Warrior screenplay:

Screenwriting Terms and Definitions

Monologue

A monologue is a long speech made by one character, usually in front of an audience. 

This monologue is taken from one of Quentin Tarantino’s best films: Pulp Fiction when Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) commands the scene with a solo.

Read our Pulp Fiction script teardown →

Screenplay Terms and Abbreviations

Slugline

In simplest terms, a slugline is a scene heading. Sluglines are used on a shot-by-shot basis to communicate location and time of day. They can also be used as sub-headers to indicate an action, shift in perspective, and other creative ways to write sluglines.

Here’s a simple slugline example:

Script Writing Abbreviations

(O.S.)

(O.S.) refers to an offscreen voice. For example, say a character begins a scene on screen having a conversation with their spouse in the bedroom, then they continue talking while brushing their teeth in the bathroom. When the character goes offscreen, their dialogue must be marked with (O.S.). 

This (O.S.) example is taken from Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story:

Read the Marriage Story screenplay →

Script Vocabulary Explained

Spec Script

A spec script is film-industry slang for “speculative screenplay” – which is simply an uncommissioned screenplay. Oftentimes, spec scripts take existing intellectual properties and “revive” them with a new story.

This video offers some insightful tips for writing spec scripts.

Script Vocabulary Explained

Shooting Script

A shooting script is a late-stage draft of a script that’s been marked up by directors, cinematographers, etc. for production. 

This video from Word Dancer breaks down the differences between shooting scripts and spec scripts in detail:

Screenplay Terms and Abbreviations

(V.O.) 

(V.O.) refers to voiceover; or when any character narrates over actions. Most of the time, (V.O.) comments on thematic beats rather than what’s literally happening in any given moment.

This iconic (V.O.) example is taken from one of Martin Scorsese’s best movies: The Departed. ~Graphic content warning~

Read our The Departed script teardown →

Script Terms and Abbreviations

Shooting script terms explained

Now that we’ve reviewed some common screenwriting terms that writers typically encounter, let’s go over shooting script terms! Again, these terms are typically but not always applied during the Pre-Production process to detail camera work, special effects, editing choices that are being planned.

Script Writing Terms

Crawl

A crawl is when text is superimposed onto a moving image, and moved slowly up or down. Crawls are used at the beginning of nearly every Star Wars show/movie.

Here’s an iconic example of a TITLE CRAWL in George Lucas’s Star Wars:

Read our Star Wars script teardown →

Script Writing Lingo

Credits or Roll Credits

Movie opening credits and title sequences don’t have to be written into the script, but if they are, they should be prefaced with CREDITS, ROLL CREDITS: or TITLE.

Check out our video on “what makes a great title sequence” below:

Script Writing Terms

Cut To:

The term “CUT TO” is used when a director wants to cut from one shot to another. “CUT TO’s” are generally used sparingly in comedies and dramas, but more frequently in action movies.

Read "How to Write Quick Cuts in a Screenplay" where you'll find detailed insights on when and how to strategically use "CUT TO" in your script, whether you're crafting a gripping action sequence or building tension in a dramatic scene.

Here’s an example of a “CUT TO” from the Inception screenplay:

Read the Inception screenplay →

Script Writing Lingo

Fade in / Fade out

A FADE is a transition that is almost exclusively used to mark the beginning and end of a script. Sometimes screenwriters use FADE TO BLACK or FADE FROM BLACK instead of simply FADE IN or FADE OUT.

If you're looking to master the art of incorporating text on a black screen, check out our blog post titled 'How to Write Text on a Black Screen,' where you'll learn creative techniques to enhance your screenplay's visual impact.

Here’s an example of a FADE OUT from Casablanca:

Read our Casablanca script teardown →

Terms in Screenwriting

Insert

An “insert cut” or an “insert shot” is when a specific shot (usually a close-up) is inserted into a scene for emphasis.

Here’s an example of an insert cut in The Prestige:

Read The Prestige screenplay →

Script Writing Lingo

Montage

A montage is a series of shots that are cut together to create tone. Montages are often used to communicate a sense of scale or emotional depth. Montages are often written into shooting scripts to remind key members of the production about the intended final pace.

For comprehensive guidance on effectively incorporating montages and other shot descriptions into your screenplay, delve into our blog post titled 'How to Write Shots in a Script'.

Watch this video on how Christopher Nolan elevates movie montages:

Screenplay Abbreviations List

Super or Superimpose

A super is a line in a script that implies text should be “superimposed” onto a shot to communicate something (usually setting). 

This “SUPER” example from The Disaster Artist tells us that the setting of the scene is “San Francisco, July 1998.”