Dialogue Punctuation

Front

What is dialogue punctuation?

Back

Dialogue punctuation refers to the specific rules and symbols used to indicate spoken words in writing, including quotation marks, commas, and exclamation points.

Front

When should you use quotation marks in dialogue?

Back

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

Front

What punctuation follows a dialogue tag?

Back

A comma is used before the closing quotation mark if the dialogue is followed by a dialogue tag (e.g., said, asked).

Front

How do you punctuate a question in dialogue?

Back

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

Front

How do you punctuate an exclamation in dialogue?

Back

If the spoken words are an exclamation, use an exclamation 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 format dialogue that is interrupted?

Back

Use a dash to indicate the interruption, and continue the dialogue after the dash.

Front

What is the correct way to write a sentence with dialogue at the beginning?

Back

Start with the dialogue in quotation marks, followed by a comma and the dialogue tag.

Front

How do you handle dialogue that spans multiple sentences?

Back

Keep the opening quotation mark at the beginning of the first sentence and the closing quotation mark at the end of the last sentence.

Front

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

Back

The first word of the dialogue should be capitalized, regardless of whether it follows a dialogue tag.