Punctuating Dialogue

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What is dialogue punctuation?

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Dialogue punctuation refers to the use of specific punctuation marks to indicate spoken words in writing, such as quotation marks, commas, and question marks.

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When do you use quotation marks in dialogue?

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

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How do you punctuate a question in dialogue?

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

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What punctuation follows a statement in dialogue?

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A comma is used to separate the spoken words from the dialogue tag (e.g., 'he said', 'she asked').

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How do you punctuate an exclamation in dialogue?

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If a character exclaims something, place an exclamation mark inside the quotation marks.

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What is a dialogue tag?

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

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Where does the punctuation go when using a dialogue tag?

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The punctuation for the spoken words goes inside the quotation marks, and the dialogue tag starts with a lowercase letter unless it begins a new sentence.

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What is the correct way to write: 'Can we go?' I asked.

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The correct way is: 'Can we go?' I asked.

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What is the correct way to write: 'I love ice cream' she said.

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

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How do you write a sentence with a question and a dialogue tag?

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Example: 'Are you coming?' he asked.