Punctuating Dialogue
Understand that punctuation signals dialogue through quotation marks and that dialogue follows conventions for the use of capital letters, commas and boundary punctuation.
Read this first
Speech marks go around the spoken words only. Nothing else.
Words you need
- Speech marks
- The marks that hold the spoken words.
- Speech tag
- The bit that says who spoke, like said Mia.
- Boundary punctuation
- The comma, full stop or question mark at the end of the speech.
Worked example
e.g. Punctuate this: where are you going asked Mum
- Find the words that were actually said. That is where are you going.
- Put speech marks around those words only.
- Give the first spoken word a capital letter. Where.
- Now punctuate the end of the speech. It is a question, so use a question mark.
- The question mark goes inside the closing speech marks.
- Add the speech tag after. Start it with a small letter.
- Result: “Where are you going?” asked Mum.
Speech marks hug the spoken words. The end mark goes inside them.
Practice
Speech marks around the spoken words. End mark inside.
1Where does the full stop go: inside or outside the speech marks?with a picture
AnswerInside.
2Does the speech tag start with a capital letter?with a picture
AnswerNo, unless it is a name.
3Punctuate: i am ready said Samwith a hint
Need a hint?
The speech ends before the tag.
Answer“I am ready,” said Sam.
4Punctuate: stop shouted the guardwith a hint
Need a hint?
Which end mark fits a shout?
Answer“Stop!” shouted the guard.
5Punctuate: do you want tea asked Dadon your own
Answer“Do you want tea?” asked Dad.
6When do you start a new line in dialogue?on your own
AnswerEvery time a new person speaks.
Think about it
1
Why start a new line for each speaker?
One good answerSo the reader can follow who is talking without being told each time.
2
Why does a comma replace the full stop before said?
One good answerThe sentence is not finished. The tag is still to come.
Common mistakes
The speech marks go around the whole sentence.
Only around the spoken words. said Mum was not spoken aloud.
The end mark goes outside the speech marks.
In Australian and British writing it goes inside.