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 exclamation points.

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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 sentence that includes dialogue followed by a tag?

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You place a comma before the closing quotation mark and continue the sentence with the tag, e.g., "I love reading," she said.

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What punctuation mark is used to indicate a pause or break in dialogue?

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A comma is used to indicate a pause or break in dialogue.

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How do you punctuate a question in dialogue?

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If the spoken words are a question, you place a question mark inside the quotation marks, e.g., "Are you coming?" he asked.

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What is a dialogue tag?

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

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How do you punctuate exclamatory dialogue?

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For exclamatory dialogue, use an exclamation mark inside the quotation marks, e.g., "Watch out!" she yelled.

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What happens to punctuation when dialogue is interrupted?

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If dialogue is interrupted by a tag, use a comma before the tag and continue the sentence, e.g., "I can't believe it," she said, "it's amazing!"

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How do you format a new paragraph for a new speaker in dialogue?

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Start a new paragraph each time a different character speaks to clearly indicate who is speaking.

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What is the rule for punctuating dialogue at the end of a sentence?

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If the dialogue ends a sentence, place the punctuation inside the quotation marks and follow with a period, e.g., "It's time to go."