punctuating dialogue

Front

What are quotation marks used for in dialogue?

Back

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

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence that includes a speaker tag?

Back

You place a comma before the opening quotation mark and after the closing quotation mark if the sentence continues.

Front

What is a speaker tag?

Back

A speaker tag identifies who is speaking, such as 'he said' or 'she asked'.

Front

When do you capitalize the first word in dialogue?

Back

You capitalize the first word of the dialogue if it starts a new sentence or follows a speaker tag.

Front

How do you punctuate interrupted dialogue?

Back

Use commas to separate the parts of the dialogue and include the speaker tag in between.

Front

What is the rule for punctuation at the end of dialogue?

Back

If the dialogue is a question or exclamation, the punctuation goes inside the quotation marks.

Front

How do you handle dialogue that is split by a speaker tag?

Back

The first part of the dialogue ends with a comma, and the second part starts with a lowercase letter unless it's a proper noun.

Front

What is the correct way to write: 'I think said Isaiah that I know the answer'?

Back

The correct way is: 'I think,' said Isaiah, 'that I know the answer.'

Front

What punctuation is used before a closing quotation mark if the dialogue is a question?

Back

A question mark is used before the closing quotation mark.

Front

How do you indicate a quote within a quote?

Back

Use single quotation marks for the quote within the quote.