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 exclamation points.

Front

When do you use quotation marks in dialogue?

Back

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

Front

What punctuation mark is used to show excitement in dialogue?

Back

An exclamation point (!) is used to show excitement or strong emotion in dialogue.

Front

How do you punctuate a sentence that ends with dialogue?

Back

If the dialogue ends with a statement, use a comma before the closing quotation marks, followed by the speaker's tag (e.g., 'she said').

Front

How do you punctuate a question in dialogue?

Back

If the dialogue is a question, use a question mark inside the quotation marks, followed by the speaker's tag (e.g., 'he asked').

Front

What is a speaker's tag?

Back

A speaker's tag is a phrase that identifies who is speaking, such as 'he said' or 'she exclaimed.'

Front

How do you punctuate dialogue that is interrupted?

Back

Use a comma to separate the dialogue from the interruption, and continue the dialogue after the interruption.

Front

What is the correct punctuation for this sentence: 'I love ice cream' she said?

Back

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

Front

What punctuation do you use for a command in dialogue?

Back

Use a comma before the closing quotation marks if the command is a statement, or an exclamation point if it shows strong emotion.

Front

How do you format dialogue in a story?

Back

Each new speaker's dialogue should start on a new line to make it clear who is speaking.