Punctuating Dialogue

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Punctuating Dialogue

• 7th Grade Language Arts

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GOLDEN RULE

• Punctuation must always go BEFORE the quotation
  marks!

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Direct Quotations

• A direct quotation is a report of a speakers
  exact words. Use quotation marks at the beginning
  and end of a direct quotation.
• Movies about aliens are interesting, Jeff said.

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Using Commas

• Use commas to set off the explanatory words used
  with a direct quotation.
• Jeff said, Movies about aliens are interesting.
• Movies about aliens, Jeff said, are
  interesting.

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Other Punctuation

• If the quotation itself is a question or an
  exclamation, the question mark or exclamation
  point falls inside the end quotation marks.
• Wow! Olivia exclaimed. Did you read that book
  about UFOs yet?

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Lets Practice

• Please complete the practice exercises below your
  notes.