Formatting Dialogue in Creative Writing

Front

Where does the comma go when dialogue comes last?

Back

When the dialogue comes last, the comma goes before it.

Front

How should a character's thoughts be formatted?

Back

A character's thoughts can be formatted using quotation marks like dialogue or written in italics.

Front

What is a tag in dialogue?

Back

A tag is a word that indicates how a speaker is talking, such as said, whispered, shouted, stated, etc.

Front

How is dialogue punctuated when it is on both sides of the tag?

Back

When dialogue is on both sides of the tag, a comma goes on both sides of the tag, with the first comma inside the quotation marks. A period can be used for a larger pause.

Front

Where does the comma go when dialogue comes first?

Back

When the dialogue comes first, the comma goes after the dialogue, but still inside the quotation marks.

Front

What is the challenge for students in writing dialogue?

Back

Students are challenged to use tag words other than 'said', such as asked, replied, yelled, muttered, offered, added, etc.