Giving Your Character Giving Your Character LifeLife

Through the Spoken WordThrough the Spoken Word

©2012HappyEdugator

Use quotation marks to enclose a Use quotation marks to enclose a direct quotationdirect quotation – – a person’s a person’s exact wordsexact words..

Our team leader says, “I try to Our team leader says, “I try to practice every day.”practice every day.”

““Let’s go home,” Jeanne suggested.Let’s go home,” Jeanne suggested.

©2012HappyEdugator

A directly quoted sentence begins A directly quoted sentence begins with a capital letter.with a capital letter.

Mrs. Talbot said, “Mrs. Talbot said, “PPlease get a pencil.”lease get a pencil.”

Kristina asked, “Kristina asked, “IIs it my turn?”s it my turn?”

©2012HappyEdugator

Split dialogueSplit dialogue

When an expression identifying the When an expression identifying the speaker interrupts a quoted sentence, speaker interrupts a quoted sentence, the second part of the quotation begins the second part of the quotation begins with a lowercase letter.with a lowercase letter.

““Will you take care of my lawn and pets,” Will you take care of my lawn and pets,” asked Mr. Franklin, “asked Mr. Franklin, “wwhile I’m on vacation hile I’m on vacation next month?”next month?”

* The expression identifying the speaker is * The expression identifying the speaker is called a called a speaker’s tag.speaker’s tag.

©2012HappyEdugator

Split DialogueSplit Dialogue If a quoted sentence is divided, a If a quoted sentence is divided, a

comma usually follows the first part comma usually follows the first part and comes before the second part.and comes before the second part.

““OhOh,,” Donna commented” Donna commented,, “he’s probably “he’s probably just saying that because he’s never had a just saying that because he’s never had a cat.”cat.”

©2012HappyEdugator

Quote at the Beginning…Quote at the Beginning…

If a quotation mark comes at the If a quotation mark comes at the beginning of a sentence, a comma, beginning of a sentence, a comma, question mark, or exclamation point question mark, or exclamation point usually follows it.usually follows it.

““Dogs make better pets than cats doDogs make better pets than cats do,,” ” said Jared.said Jared.

““Have you ever had a catHave you ever had a cat??” Emily asked.” Emily asked. ““No, and I never willNo, and I never will!!” he replied.” he replied.

©2012HappyEdugator

Quote at the end…Quote at the end…

If a quotation comes at the end of a If a quotation comes at the end of a sentence, a comma usually comes sentence, a comma usually comes before it.before it.

Terra askedTerra asked,, “What makes you say “What makes you say that?”that?”

©2012HappyEdugator

Punctuation inside Punctuation inside QuotesQuotes

A period or a comma should A period or a comma should alwaysalways be placed inside the quotation be placed inside the quotation marks.marks.

““I can’t wait to see Shirley Caesar’s I can’t wait to see Shirley Caesar’s new videonew video,,” James said. “It’s supposed ” James said. “It’s supposed to come out next weekto come out next week..””

©2012HappyEdugator

The Exception to the The Exception to the RuleRule

A question mark or an exclamation A question mark or an exclamation point should be placed inside closing point should be placed inside closing quotation marks when the quotation quotation marks when the quotation itself is a question or an exclamation. itself is a question or an exclamation. Otherwise, it should be placed outside.Otherwise, it should be placed outside. ““What time will you be home from work, What time will you be home from work,

MomMom??” asked Michael.” asked Michael. Who said, “All the world’s a stage”Who said, “All the world’s a stage”?? ““StopStop!!” yelled the crossing patrol.” yelled the crossing patrol. What a surprise to hear Susana say, “We’re What a surprise to hear Susana say, “We’re

moving back to Puerto Rico in June”moving back to Puerto Rico in June”!!

©2012HappyEdugator

Don’t Be Afraid to Don’t Be Afraid to Use Dialogue in Your Use Dialogue in Your

Writing!Writing!Just be sure to use it Just be sure to use it

thoughtfully. Make every thoughtfully. Make every word a character says count. word a character says count. Never overuse dialogue. It Never overuse dialogue. It should be supplemental to should be supplemental to

the description, and not take the description, and not take over the whole composition. over the whole composition.