Punctuating Dialogue

Front

What is the purpose of quotation marks in dialogue?

Back

Quotation marks are used to indicate the exact words spoken by a speaker.

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence that includes dialogue?

Back

You place a comma before the opening quotation mark and end the spoken sentence with appropriate punctuation inside the quotation marks.

Front

What punctuation is used to indicate a pause or break in dialogue?

Back

Ellipsis (...) can be used to indicate a pause or trailing off in dialogue.

Front

What is the correct way to write a question in dialogue?

Back

You should place the question mark inside the quotation marks if the quoted material is a question.

Front

How do you indicate a speaker's action in dialogue?

Back

You can use a dialogue tag, such as 'she said' or 'he asked,' to indicate who is speaking.

Front

What is a dialogue tag?

Back

A dialogue tag is a phrase that attributes spoken words to a speaker, often including verbs like 'said,' 'asked,' or 'replied.'

Front

When should you start a new paragraph in dialogue?

Back

You should start a new paragraph each time a different character speaks.

Front

What is the difference between direct and indirect dialogue?

Back

Direct dialogue quotes the exact words spoken, while indirect dialogue paraphrases what was said without quoting directly.

Front

How do you punctuate a quote within a quote?

Back

Use single quotation marks for the inner quote, while the outer quote uses double quotation marks.

Front

What is the rule for punctuating dialogue that is interrupted?

Back

If dialogue is interrupted by a dialogue tag, use a comma before the tag and continue the sentence after the tag with a lowercase letter.