Punctuating Dialogue

Front

What is the correct way to punctuate dialogue?

Back

Use quotation marks to enclose the spoken words and place punctuation inside the quotation marks. Example: "I love reading!"

Front

What should you do to the first word of a quotation?

Back

Capitalize the first word of a quotation.

Front

Where should the comma be placed in dialogue?

Back

A comma should be placed before the opening quotation mark if the dialogue is preceded by a dialogue tag. Example: She said, "Hello!"

Front

How do you punctuate a quote at the end of a sentence?

Back

Place the punctuation mark (like a period) inside the quotation marks. Example: "It's a sunny day."

Front

What is a dialogue tag?

Back

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

Front

When do you use a question mark in dialogue?

Back

Use a question mark inside the quotation marks if the spoken words are a question. Example: "Are you coming?"

Front

What is the rule for punctuating dialogue with interruptions?

Back

Use a dash to indicate an interruption in dialogue. Example: "I was going to say—"

Front

How do you format dialogue that spans multiple paragraphs?

Back

Use opening quotation marks at the beginning of each paragraph but only close the quotation marks at the end of the final paragraph.

Front

What is the correct punctuation for a statement followed by a dialogue tag?

Back

The statement should end with a comma before the dialogue begins. Example: "It's a great day," she said.

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.