Punctuating Dialogue

Front

What is dialogue punctuation?

Back

Dialogue punctuation refers to the use of quotation marks, commas, and other punctuation marks to indicate spoken words in writing.

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 follows a dialogue tag?

Back

A comma is used to separate the spoken words from the dialogue tag when the tag comes before or after the dialogue.

Front

How do you punctuate a question in dialogue?

Back

If the spoken words are a question, place a question mark inside the quotation marks.

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'.

Front

How do you punctuate a statement in dialogue?

Back

If the spoken words are a statement, place a period inside the quotation marks.

Front

What is the correct punctuation for interrupted dialogue?

Back

Use a dash to indicate an interruption in dialogue.

Front

How do you punctuate dialogue that is split over two sentences?

Back

Use quotation marks at the beginning of the first part and at the end of the second part, with punctuation as needed.

Front

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

Back

The first word of the dialogue should be capitalized, regardless of its position in the sentence.

Front

How do you punctuate a quote within dialogue?

Back

Use single quotation marks for the quote within the dialogue, while the main dialogue remains in double quotation marks.