Punctuating Simple Dialogue

Front

What is dialogue in writing?

Back

Dialogue is a conversation between two or more characters in a story, often indicated by quotation marks.

Front

What punctuation is used to indicate spoken words?

Back

Quotation marks (" ") are used to indicate spoken words in dialogue.

Front

Where should commas be placed in dialogue?

Back

Commas should be placed inside the quotation marks before the dialogue tag (e.g., said, asked).

Front

What is a dialogue tag?

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

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence that ends with a dialogue tag?

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If the dialogue ends with a dialogue tag, place a comma before the closing quotation mark.

Front

What is the correct punctuation for interrupted dialogue?

Back

Use a dash to indicate an interruption in dialogue (e.g., 'I was going to say—').

Front

How do you punctuate a question in dialogue?

Back

If the dialogue is a question, place the question mark inside the quotation marks.

Front

What is the rule for punctuating exclamatory dialogue?

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If the dialogue is an exclamation, place the exclamation mark inside the quotation marks.

Front

How do you format dialogue that spans multiple paragraphs?

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Start a new paragraph for each new speaker, and do not close the quotation marks until the end of the dialogue.

Front

What is the purpose of using ellipses in dialogue?

Back

Ellipses indicate a pause or unfinished thought in dialogue.