Punctuating Dialogue

Front

What is dialogue in writing?

Back

Dialogue is a conversation between two or more characters in a story.

Front

Why is punctuation important in dialogue?

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Punctuation helps clarify the meaning of the dialogue and indicates how it should be read.

Front

What punctuation marks are commonly used in dialogue?

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Common punctuation marks include quotation marks, commas, question marks, and exclamation points.

Front

How do you start a dialogue?

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You start a dialogue with a quotation mark before the spoken words.

Front

What is a dialogue tag?

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A dialogue tag is a phrase that attributes the dialogue to a specific character, such as 'said' or 'asked'.

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How do you punctuate a question in dialogue?

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You place the question mark inside the quotation marks if the spoken words are a question.

Front

How do you punctuate an exclamation in dialogue?

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You place the exclamation point inside the quotation marks if the spoken words are an exclamation.

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What is the correct punctuation for interrupted dialogue?

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Use a dash to indicate the interruption, followed by the closing quotation marks.

Front

How do you format dialogue when a new speaker talks?

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Start a new paragraph for each new speaker's dialogue.

Front

What is the rule for punctuation before a dialogue tag?

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Use a comma before the dialogue tag if the dialogue is a statement.