Punctuating Dialogue

Front

What are quotation marks used for in dialogue?

Back

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

Front

How should a sentence with dialogue be punctuated?

Back

A sentence with dialogue should have a comma before the opening quotation mark if it is preceded by a dialogue tag (e.g., said, asked).

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 do you use a period inside quotation marks?

Back

A period is used inside quotation marks when the quoted material is a complete sentence.

Front

What is the correct punctuation for this sentence: 'I love ice cream' she said?

Back

The correct punctuation is: 'I love ice cream,' she said.

Front

How do you punctuate a question in dialogue?

Back

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

Front

What is the rule for capitalizing the first word in a quotation?

Back

The first word of a quotation is capitalized if it is a complete sentence.

Front

What is the correct way to write: 'He said I will go to the store'?

Back

The correct way is: 'He said, "I will go to the store."'

Front

How do you handle interruptions in dialogue?

Back

Use dashes to indicate interruptions in dialogue.

Front

What is the correct punctuation for this sentence: 'Can we go to the park' asked John?

Back

The correct punctuation is: 'Can we go to the park?' asked John.