Punctuating Dialogue

Front

What is dialogue punctuation?

Back

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

Front

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.

Front

What punctuation mark follows a dialogue tag?

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A comma is used to separate the spoken words from the dialogue tag when the tag comes after the dialogue.

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How do you punctuate a question in dialogue?

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If the spoken words are a question, use a question 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 speaker, such as 'he said' or 'she asked'.

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How do you punctuate a statement in dialogue?

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If the spoken words are a statement, use a comma before the closing quotation marks if followed by a dialogue tag.

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What is the correct punctuation for interrupted dialogue?

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Use a dash to indicate an interruption in dialogue, placing it before the closing quotation marks.

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How do you punctuate dialogue that is a command?

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Use a comma before the closing quotation marks if the command is followed by a dialogue tag.

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What is the rule for punctuation when a dialogue tag comes before the dialogue?

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If the dialogue tag comes before the spoken words, use a comma before the opening quotation marks.

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How do you punctuate a quote within dialogue?

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Use single quotation marks for the quote within the dialogue, and double quotation marks for the main dialogue.