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.

Front

When do you use quotation marks in dialogue?

Back

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

Front

How do you punctuate a question in dialogue?

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If a character asks a question, place the question mark inside the quotation marks.

Front

What punctuation follows a dialogue tag?

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A dialogue tag, such as 'he said' or 'she asked,' is usually followed by a comma if the dialogue continues.

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How do you punctuate a statement in dialogue?

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For statements, use a comma before the closing quotation marks if a dialogue tag follows.

Front

What is a dialogue tag?

Back

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

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How do you punctuate dialogue that is interrupted?

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

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

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

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How do you punctuate a quote within dialogue?

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Use single quotation marks for a quote within dialogue, and double quotation marks for the main dialogue.

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What is the correct punctuation for a command in dialogue?

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For commands, use a comma before the closing quotation marks if a dialogue tag follows.