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 question marks.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.2C

CCSS.L.4.2B

CCSS.L.5.2D

Front

When do you use quotation marks in dialogue?

Back

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

Tags

CCSS.L.3.2C

CCSS.L.4.2B

CCSS.L.5.2D

Front

What punctuation mark is used to indicate a question in dialogue?

Back

A question mark (?) is used at the end of a spoken question.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.2B

CCSS.L.4.3B

CCSS.L.K.2B

Front

How do you punctuate a statement in dialogue?

Back

A statement in dialogue ends with a period (.) inside the quotation marks.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.2B

CCSS.L.4.3B

CCSS.L.K.2B

Front

What is the correct way to punctuate this sentence: 'I love ice cream' she said?

Back

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

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.6.2A

Front

How do you punctuate a command in dialogue?

Back

A command in dialogue ends with a comma (,) if followed by a tag like 'said' or 'asked'.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.6.2A

Front

What is a dialogue tag?

Back

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

Tags

CCSS.L.3.2C

CCSS.L.4.2B

CCSS.L.6.3A

Front

How do you punctuate dialogue that is interrupted?

Back

Use a comma before the dialogue tag and continue the sentence after the tag.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.2B

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.L.5.2B

Front

What is the rule for punctuating dialogue with exclamations?

Back

An exclamation mark (!) is used at the end of the spoken words, inside the quotation marks.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1J

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.5.1A

CCSS.L.8.1C

CCSS.L.K.1D

Front

What is the correct way to write: 'Can we go now' he asked?

Back

The correct way is: 'Can we go now?' he asked.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.2C

CCSS.L.4.2B

CCSS.L.6.3A