Quotations and Dialogue

Front

What is the correct way to punctuate dialogue when a speaker is quoted?

Back

When punctuating dialogue, use quotation marks to enclose the spoken words. The punctuation (comma, period, question mark, exclamation point) should be placed inside the quotation marks.

Front

How should the first letter of dialogue be treated in writing?

Back

The first letter of dialogue should always be capitalized.

Front

What is the correct punctuation for a quotation that ends with an exclamation?

Back

If a quotation ends with an exclamation, the exclamation mark should be placed inside the quotation marks.

Front

What is the correct punctuation for a quotation that ends with a question?

Back

If a quotation ends with a question, the question mark should be placed inside the quotation marks.

Front

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

Back

You can indicate a speaker's action by using a dialogue tag followed by a comma, and then the dialogue in quotation marks.

Front

What is a dialogue tag?

Back

A dialogue tag is a phrase that attributes the dialogue to a specific speaker, such as 'he said' or 'she asked'.

Front

When should you use a comma in dialogue?

Back

Use a comma to separate the dialogue from the dialogue tag when the tag comes before or after the spoken words.

Front

What is the rule for using quotation marks with dialogue?

Back

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

Front

How do you format a quotation that is interrupted by a dialogue tag?

Back

If a quotation is interrupted by a dialogue tag, use a comma before the closing quotation mark, insert the tag, and then continue the quotation with a lowercase letter.

Front

What is the difference between direct and indirect quotations?

Back

A direct quotation is the exact words spoken by someone, while an indirect quotation paraphrases what someone said without using their exact words.