Punctuating Dialogue - PRE

rules of dialogue

1. Punctuation INSIDE quotations.

2. Each time the speaker changes, start a new paragraph.

3. If the tag is in FRONT of the spoken words, put a comma before the quotation.

4. If the tag is AFTER the spoken works, change the period to a comma, add the tag, and then put a period. Do not capitalize the first word of the tag.

   1. "I cannot run fast," said the child.

5. If the tag is AFTER the spoken words and is a question or an exclamation, put a ? or ! inside the quotes and then add the tag with a period.

   1. "Can you run fast?" the child asked.

6. If it is a split quote : Look at the two examples of how to do this.

   1. "I really can't," started the child, "run fast in the rain."

   2. "I really can't run fast in the rain," cried the child. "It is too slippery!"

WHAT DIALOGUE SHOULD LOOK LIKE

  “I’m just not sure, ”she grabbed a handful of seeds, “that you’re taking this seriously.”

   He weaved between the overgrown plants, pushing them aside.“ Why would you think that?”

   “Because…you just ignore the important stuff unless it’s important to you only.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Ricky retorted.

   “No.” She plunged her finger into the pot with soil, dropping in a few seeds. “It’s true.”

Open Ended

We will be there soon said the bus driver.

Open Ended

I love homework exclaimed no one ever.

Multiple Choice

Which dialogue example below is written correctly?

• this is real? he said

• This is real. He said.

• "This is real," he said.

• "This is real" he said.

Multiple Choice

Select the sentence that has been punctuated correctly.

• ''I didn't see any celebrities in Los Angeles,'' Mr. Smith said, ''but I still had a great time.''

• " I didn't see any celebrities in Los Angeles, " Mr. Smith said. "but I still had a great time.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence below uses quotation marks appropriately?

• "Which store do you want to go to?" asked Marie.
• "Which store do you want to go to," asked Marie?

• "Which store do you want to go to? asked Marie.
• Which store do you want to go to? asked Marie.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence that uses quotation marks correctly.

• Polly shouted, "I want a cracker!"
• Polly shouted! "I want a cracker."
• Polly shouted, "I want a cracker"!
• "Polly shouted," I want a cracker!

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence which uses quotation marks correctly.

• "That's just great," Ms. Anderson cried out, "I can't find my keys!"
• "That's just great!" Ms. Anderson cried out. "I can't find my keys!"

• "That's just great Ms. Anderson cried out, I can't find my keys"
• "That's just great?"  Ms. Anderson cried out, I can't find my keys!"

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• Mom said, "You need to clean your room."

• Mom said ",You need to clean your room."

• Mom said "You need to clean your room."

• Mom said , "You need to clean your room."

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• "We won"! the team shouted.

• "We won" the team shouted!

• "We won," the team shouted!

• "We won!" the team shouted.

Multiple Choice

What is wrong with this dialogue?

“Rebecca, I really needed you and you weren’t there,” complained Ashley. “I’m sorry, Ashley. I was just busy with school and work," replied Rebecca. “Okay, but that’s not a good excuse Rebecca,” retorted Ashley.

  “You’re right, Ashley. It’s not.”

• There is a comma where the period should be in the dialogue in the first sentence.

• Each time the speaker changes, the line should be on its own in a separate paragraph.

• The last sentence should end with an exclamation point

• The sentences are too long and do not make sense.