Punctuating Dialogue

Front

What is the purpose of quotation marks in dialogue?

Back

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

Front

How should a comma be used in dialogue?

Back

A comma should be placed before the opening quotation mark when introducing a quote.

Front

What is the correct punctuation for a question in dialogue?

Back

A question mark should be placed inside the quotation marks if the quoted material is a question.

Front

How do you punctuate a statement followed by a dialogue tag?

Back

Place a comma before the opening quotation mark if the statement is followed by a dialogue tag.

Front

What is a dialogue tag?

Back

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

Front

When should you use an exclamation mark in dialogue?

Back

An exclamation mark should be used inside the quotation marks to indicate strong emotion or emphasis.

Front

What is the correct way to punctuate a quote that ends a sentence?

Back

Place the period inside the closing quotation marks.

Front

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

Back

The first part of the quote ends with a comma before the dialogue tag, and the second part starts with a lowercase letter.

Front

What is the rule for punctuating a quote that is a question?

Back

If the entire sentence is a question, the question mark goes inside the quotation marks.

Front

How do you punctuate a quote that is a command?

Back

Use an exclamation mark or a period inside the quotation marks, depending on the intensity of the command.