Punctuating Dialogue

1
Punctuating Dialogue

• Giving Your Character Life
• Through the Spoken Word

2
Rules for Using Quotation Marks

• Use quotation marks to enclose a direct quotation
  a persons exact words.
• Our team leader says, I try to practice every
  day.
• Lets go home, Jeanne suggested.

3

• A directly quoted sentence begins with a capital
  letter.
• Mrs. Talbot said, Please get a pencil.
• Kristina asked, Is it my turn?

4
Split dialogue

• When an expression identifying the speaker
  interrupts a quoted sentence the second part of
  the quotation begins with a lowercase letter.
• Will you take care of my lawn and pets, asked
  Mr. Franklin, while Im on vacation next month?
• The expression identifying the speaker is
  called a speakers tag.

5
Split Dialogue

• If a quoted sentence is divided, a comma usually
  follows the first part and comes before the
  second part.
• Oh, Donna commented, hes probably just saying
  that because hes never had a cat.

6
Quote at the Beginning

• If a quotation mark comes at the beginning of a
  sentence, a comma, question mark, or exclamation
  point usually follows it.
• Dogs make better pets than cats do, said
  Jared.
• Have you ever had a cat? Emily asked.
• No, and I never will! he replied.

7
Quote at the end

• If a quotation comes at the end of a sentence, a
  comma usually comes before it.
• Terra asked, What makes you say that?

8
Punctuation inside Quotes

• A period or a comma should always be placed
  inside the quotation marks.
• I cant wait to see Shirley Caesars new video,
  James said. Its supposed to come out next week.

9
The Exception to the Rule

• A question mark or an exclamation point should be
  placed inside closing quotation marks when the
  quotation itself is a question or an exclamation.
  Otherwise, it should be placed outside.
• What time will you be home from work, Mom?
  asked Michael.
• Who said, All the worlds a stage?
• Stop! yelled the crossing patrol.
• What a surprise to hear Susana say, Were moving
  back to Puerto Rico in June!