Punctuation of Dialogue

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• Quote

• Check Capital

• End Punctuation

• End quote

• Quote

• Check Capital

• End Punctuation

• End quote

• Words said + who said them = a whole quote- hence a period

• Put quotes around the spoken words

• Capitalize first word in a quote

• End punctuation depends on the words spoken-

• .- end , if adding a speaker ?- for question ! if yelling

• Then stop the dialogue with an end quote

• ". " are like shoes- you need 2

• Period at end of both speaker and spoken words

"I am going to the store," Paul said.

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"Where are my shoes?" asked Paul.

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"No, I don't have your shoes!" screamed Joe.

• Joe said, "Hello, Bob."

• "Hello, Bob," said Joe.

• Notice: the comma separated the dialogue

• it's the end punctuation in the quote or before the quote in the first example

• You ALWAYS need a comma if you have the speaker first to show separation

• If you have dialogue first your end punctuation is based on what the quote says. "Who goes there?" asked Paul.

Paul said, "Hello."

Punctuation goes INSIDE the quote marks

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• Bob asked, "Where are you going?"

• "Where are you going?" Bob asked.