P3 Punctuation

P3 Punctuation

A closer look at formatting quotations within sentences.

Quotation Marks

• They're generally used in one of two ways:

• Around titles of short works of literature or media (poems, TV episodes, articles, songs, etc.)

• To signify dialogue (conversations between two characters) or quotes from other people

Multiple Choice

Should the following title be placed in quotation marks when referenced in a piece of writing?

The Office

• yes, it's a series of TV episodes

• no, it's referencing the entire show - not just a single episode

Multiple Choice

Should the following title be placed in quotation marks when referenced in a piece of writing?

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

• yes, it's the title of poem

• no, it's the title of a novel

Quotation Marks & Dialogue

Rule #1: Place quotation marks around the words that are being spoken.

Example: He said, Let's go to the store. >>> He said, "Let's go to the store."

Notice that after you indicate who is speaking, you include a comma before the quotation marks begin.

Quotation Marks & Dialogue

Rule #1: Question marks and exclamation points always go inside quotation marks because they affect how the words are said/read.

Example: "I stubbed my toe" she exclaimed. >>> "I stubbed my toe!" She exclaimed.

Notice that She exclaimed is acting like a complete sentence in this correct example. That's because a complete sentence can be composed only of a subject and a verb - there's nothing else required.

Quotation Marks & Dialogue

Rule #2: Periods and commas that follow spoken words go inside the quotation marks.

Example: "We are going to the store" she said "after we eat lunch" >>> "We are going to the store," she said, "after we eat lunch."

Notice that the period and the comma at the end of the spoken words are inside the quotation marks. And check it, I've also included a comma after stating who is saying the words.

Quotation Marks & Dialogue

Rule #3: Colons and semicolons that follow quoted words go outside the quotation marks

Example: The teacher graded all the assignments that were "timely;" he ignored those that were late. >>> The teacher graded all the assignments that were "timely"; he ignored those that were late.

Notice that when you're putting quotation marks around just a word or phrase that is a part of the sentence to draw emphasis to the word/phrase, you do not have to put commas around the quotation.

Multiple Select

Which sentence includes quotations that are properly formatted? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY.

• "I missed the bus this morning," she explained to her mom.

• He said "I promise I'll study next time."

• "I wonder if we'll do anything fun in class"; he did not realize that they were taking a test today.

Open Ended

Write a sentence that includes correctly formatted quotation marks and punctuation.