*Punctuating Dialogue

QUOTES

*Punctuating quotes

-Use quotation marks at the beginning and end of a direct quotation.

“My name is Sally,” announced Sally.

-Use commas to set off explanatory words/phrases.

“That is a beautiful car,” exclaimed Frank.

Frank exclaimed, “That is a beautiful car.”

-If a quotation is a question or an exclamation, place the question mark or exclamation point inside the closing quotation mark.

“Where are you going?” Jay questioned.

Jay questioned, “Where are you going?”

“That’s disgusting!” shrieked Amanda.

Amanda shrieked, “That’s disgusting!”

-Use quotation marks to enclose both parts of a divided quotation.

“Robots,” Ali began, “are fascinating machines.”

-Use commas to set off the explanatory words used with a divided quotation.

“Well,” exclaimed James, “he could always give them to me!”

*Quotes & capitalization

-Capitalize the 1^st word of a direct quotation if it begins a complete sentence.

My teacher asked, “Has anyone read about the Colosseum?”

-In a divided quotation, do not capitalize the 1^st word of the second part unless it starts a new sentence.

“I hear you’re going to Italy,” Theresa said. “Make sure you see the Leaning

Tower of Pisa.”

“Did you know,” asked Theresa, “that the Leaning Tower has been tilting for

over 800 years?”

-Do not capitalize the explanatory words if they follow the direct quotation.

“That’s really interesting,” commented Joan.

*Miscellaneous

-Start a new paragraph each time you change speakers.

“What do you want?” asked Frank.

“I want you to buy me a hot dog,” responded Janet.

“Okay,” Frank replied.