Punctuating Dialogue

Front

What is the purpose of punctuation in dialogue?

Back

Punctuation in dialogue helps clarify the meaning, indicate pauses, and convey the tone of the characters' speech.

Front

What punctuation mark is used to indicate a pause in dialogue?

Back

A comma is used to indicate a pause in dialogue.

Front

How do you punctuate a question in dialogue?

Back

A question mark is placed inside the quotation marks at the end of the spoken question.

Front

What is the correct way to punctuate a statement in dialogue?

Back

A period is placed inside the quotation marks at the end of the spoken statement.

Front

When a dialogue tag follows a quote, how should it be punctuated?

Back

The quote ends with a comma before the closing quotation marks, and the dialogue tag begins with a lowercase letter unless it's a proper noun.

Front

What is a dialogue tag?

Back

A dialogue tag is a phrase that attributes speech to a character, such as 'he said' or 'she asked'.

Front

How do you punctuate dialogue that is interrupted by a dialogue tag?

Back

The first part of the dialogue ends with a comma, the dialogue tag is inserted, and the second part of the dialogue begins with a lowercase letter.

Front

What is the rule for punctuating multiple paragraphs of dialogue?

Back

Each paragraph of dialogue should begin with opening quotation marks, but only the first paragraph requires closing quotation marks until the final paragraph.

Front

How do you indicate a character's thoughts in writing?

Back

Character's thoughts can be indicated using italics or by using a different format, but they are not enclosed in quotation marks.

Front

What is the difference between direct and indirect dialogue?

Back

Direct dialogue is the exact words spoken by a character, while indirect dialogue paraphrases what a character said.