Dialogue Rules

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Dialogue Rules

• ALL ABOARD
• Come join the ride to learn how to use dialogue
  correctly in writing!

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Rule 1

• A direct quote begins with a capital letter.
• Ex. Jimmy shouted, See you at the game!
• Ex. Is it true? asked Cindy.

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Rule 2

• When a quote is interrupted into two parts with
  words like he asked or the teacher demanded,
  the second part begins with a lowercase letter.

• Ex What are some of the things, Mrs. Small
  asked, that make school so much fun?
• Ex One thing I like, Ali replied, is recess!

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Rule 3

• When writing dialogue, all punctuation marks at
  the end of the quote go at the inside of the
  quotation marks.
• Ex. Lets visit the museum, suggested
  Samantha.
• Ex. Jon replied, Didnt we go there last
  weekend?

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Rule 4

• Do not put a period at the end of a quotation
  followed by things like she said, mom asked, he
  explained. Use commas, question marks, and
  exclamation marks but not periods. Periods end
  sentences.
• Ex My Math class is hard, replied Tom
• Ex Thats my favorite class! yelled Monica

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Rule 5

• Make a new paragraph (indent) when a different
  person begins to speak.
• Ex
• Last night, I dreamt that I ate a giant
  marshmallow,
• Kevin said.
• Thats crazy! replied Kate.
• Wait until you hear about the dream I had
  about swimming in a mountain of fruit cocktail,
  responded Jim.