Punctuating Dialogue

Front

What is the correct punctuation for dialogue?

Back

Dialogue should be enclosed in quotation marks, and punctuation marks should be placed inside the quotation marks. For example: Sam said, "Hello!"

Front

How do you punctuate a question in dialogue?

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When a sentence is a question, the question mark should be placed inside the quotation marks. For example: "Are you coming?" she asked.

Front

What is the rule for punctuating dialogue tags?

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When a dialogue tag follows a quote, the first word of the quote should be capitalized, and the tag should be lowercase unless it starts a new sentence. For example: "I love pizza," he said.

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How do you punctuate a statement in dialogue?

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A statement in dialogue ends with a period inside the quotation marks. For example: "I am going to the store."

Front

What is the correct way to punctuate a quote followed by a dialogue tag?

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If the quote ends with a punctuation mark, that mark should be inside the quotation marks, and the dialogue tag should start with a lowercase letter. For example: "It's a beautiful day," she said.

Front

What is the difference between a statement and a question in dialogue?

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A statement ends with a period, while a question ends with a question mark. For example: "I like ice cream." vs. "Do you like ice cream?"

Front

How do you punctuate a quote that is interrupted by a dialogue tag?

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If a quote is interrupted by a dialogue tag, use a comma before the tag and continue the quote. For example: "I can't believe it," she said, "that we won!"

Front

What is the correct punctuation for exclamatory dialogue?

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Exclamatory sentences in dialogue should end with an exclamation mark inside the quotation marks. For example: "Watch out!" he shouted.

Front

How do you handle multiple speakers in dialogue?

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Each time a new speaker talks, start a new paragraph. For example: "I will go first," said John. "Okay, I'll follow you," replied Sarah.

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

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The first word of a direct quote should always be capitalized, regardless of its position in the sentence. For example: "Let's go to the park," she suggested.