Punctuating dialogue Use quotation marks before and after

Punctuating dialogue � Use quotation marks before and after a person’s exact words. Place period inside quote marks.

Punctuating dialogue Use quotation marks before and after a person’s exact words. Place period inside quote marks. � “Peter and Esteban are joining us. ” �

Punctuating dialogue � Use a comma to set off the speaker’s tag from the beginning of a quotation.

Punctuating dialogue Use a comma to set off the speaker’s tag from the beginning of a quotation. � Harry said, “Come on, Juan. It’ll be fun. ” � “Let’s go, ” Gilda said. �

Punctuating dialogue � Use quotation marks around each part of a divided quotation.

Punctuating dialogue Use quotation marks around each part of a divided quotation. � “I’m not sure, ” said Juan, “that I feel like it. ” �

Punctuating dialogue � Place a question mark or an exclamation point inside the quotation marks when it’s a part of the quotation.

Punctuating dialogue � � � Place a question mark or an exclamation point inside the quotation marks when it’s a part of the quotation. “When will we be back? ” Juan asked. “That’s great!” said Iris.

Punctuating dialogue � Place question mark or exclamation point outside quotation marks only when it’s not a part of the quotation.

Punctuating dialogue Place question mark or exclamation point outside quotation marks only when it’s not a part of the quotation. � Did I hear Juan say, “Okay”? � I can’t believe he said, “Okay”! �

Punctuating dialogue � Start a new paragraph each time you switch from one speaker to the next, no matter how short the line is.

Punctuating dialogue “How long of a hike is it? ” asked Juan. “I don’t know whether I have the energy. ” “It’s about seven miles, ” Iris said. “Really? ” he said. “Yes, I’m afraid so. ”