Punctuating Dialogue

Front

What is dialogue punctuation?

Back

Dialogue punctuation refers to the use of specific punctuation marks to indicate spoken words in writing, such as quotation marks, commas, and exclamation points.

Front

When do you use quotation marks in dialogue?

Back

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

Front

What punctuation mark is used to show excitement in dialogue?

Back

An exclamation mark (!) is used to show excitement or strong emotion in dialogue.

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence that ends with dialogue?

Back

If the dialogue is at the end of the sentence, place the punctuation inside the quotation marks.

Front

What is the correct way to write: 'I love ice cream' she said?

Back

The correct way is: 'I love ice cream,' she said.

Front

How do you separate dialogue from the tag (like 'he said')?

Back

Use a comma before the closing quotation mark to separate the dialogue from the tag.

Front

What is a dialogue tag?

Back

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

Front

What punctuation do you use for a question in dialogue?

Back

Use a question mark (?) at the end of the spoken words if the dialogue is a question.

Front

How do you write a sentence with interrupted dialogue?

Back

Use dashes to indicate the interruption, like this: 'I was going to say—'.

Front

What is the rule for capitalizing the first word in dialogue?

Back

Always capitalize the first word of the dialogue, even if it follows a dialogue tag.