Four Ways of Punctuation in Dialogue

1
Four Ways of Punctuation in Dialogue

• Steve said,  "Good morning.
• "Good morning,"  said Steve.
• Steve said,  "Good morning,"  then sat down.
• "Ladies and gentlemen,"  said Steve,  "good
  morning."

2

• Written dialogue represents the spoken words
  of two or more people involved in a conversation.
  Dialogue is special for a number of reasons.
• ? It captures the reader's attention.
• ? It breaks up blocks of prose.
• ? It adds more white space to a page,
  which pleases the eye.
• Dialogue is the first thing many fiction
  editors look for in stories. If the dialogue
  doesn't work, the whole manuscript is rejected.

3

• In dialogue, each person gets his own paragraph
  each time he speaks, no matter how briefly. Even
  a simply spoken, "No," gets a paragraph all to
  itself.

4

• A piece of rope walked into a bar and sat down
  on the stool. The bartender looked up and saw
  him sitting there.
• The piece of rope asked, Can I get a drink
  please?
• The bartender replied, No way! We dont serve
  your kind here.
• Get out before there is trouble!
• So the piece of rope walked outside onto the
  sidewalk. He was so upset. He began to twist
  himself up into a ball of anger. He tore at his
  hair and gnashed his teeth. Finally he decided
  he had enough of this treatment. He walked back
  into the bar.
• Hey arent you that piece of rope I just told
  to get out of here? the bartender demanded.
• No sir, Im a frayed knot! said the piece of
  rope happily.