Writing Tips

Punctuating Dialogue

✧

➸ “This is a sentence.”

➸ “This is a sentence with a dialogue tag at the end,” she said.

➸ “This,” he said, “is a sentence split by a dialogue tag.”

➸ “This is a sentence,” she said. “This is a new sentence. New sentences are capitalized.”

➸ “This is a sentence followed by an action.” He stood. “They are separate sentences because he did not speak by standing.”

➸ She said, “Use a comma to introduce dialogue. The quote is capitalized when the dialogue tag is at the beginning.”

➸ “Use a comma when a dialogue tag follows a quote,” he said.

“Unless there is a question mark?” she asked.

“Or an exclamation point!” he answered. “The dialogue tag still remains uncapitalized because it’s not truly the end of the sentence.”

➸ “Periods and commas should be inside closing quotations.”

➸ “Hey!” she shouted, “Sometimes exclamation points are inside quotations.”

However, if it’s not dialogue exclamation points can also be “outside”!

➸ “Does this apply to question marks too?” he asked.

If it’s not dialogue, can question marks be “outside”? (Yes, they can.)

➸ “This applies to dashes too. Inside quotations dashes typically express—“

“Interruption” — but there are situations dashes may be outside.

➸ “You’ll notice that exclamation marks, question marks, and dashes do not have a comma after them. Ellipses don’t have a comma after them either…” she said.

➸ “My teacher said, ‘Use single quotation marks when quoting within dialogue.’”

➸ “Use paragraph breaks to indicate a new speaker,” he said.

“The readers will know it’s someone else speaking.”

➸ “If it’s the same speaker but different paragraph, keep the closing quotation off.

“This shows it’s the same character continuing to speak.”

More Posts from Mechan1calavian and Others

mechan1calavian

10 months ago

Qsmp apartment au but something is slightly off about everyone there

• those in the complex has built a bit of community around each other, they’re all close. All connected in some way, and they turn a blind eye to others adnormalities

• Tubbo, the local biological engineer (or that’s what he says he is) never actually says where he works. Or who keeps him and Sunny living comfortably in their apartment, with Sunny getting new and fancy clothes almost every week.

• the basement of the complex is blocked off to residents, yet they swear they see Tubbo toting what looks like medical supplies and machine parts to it in the early hours of the morning.

• residents claim to see Phil standing on the roof some time, a weird shadow behind him, he leaves a trail of feathers wherever he goes, despite never seeming to have anything with feathers on him.

• missa who’s skin is always cold, who seems to come and go, like some kind of ghost or reaper

• if you watch closely you’ll see a little girl running up and down the hallways at night, don’t make her notice you though. Charlie is the only one she likes, he’ll talk to her and play with her as though she’s his lost daughter

• BadBoyHalo is the kindest resident, he bakes muffins for the kids and parents regularly, though he does have a mischievous side to him. Try not to shuffle things around too much in his apartment though, you’ll see the sigils carved into the floor and that’s no fun for anyone is it?

• things in the complex disappear sometimes. Don’t worry about it. They’ll come back, if you have to leave your apartment late at night, pretend the ceiling isn’t the floor, and the floor isn’t the ceiling. Step around lights, don’t acknowledge it, you’ll be okay.

• if you see the eyes the eyes see you. Run. Don’t come out, for the sake of everyone and everything you love don’t fucking come out.

Feel free to add more!!

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mechan1calavian

2 years ago

Not Friday but ehh close enough

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Look buddy, i’m just trying to make it to Friday.

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mechan1calavian

2 years ago

How the hell is english my first language and yet I didn't know any of this

IT’S NOT ‘PEEKED’ MY INTEREST

OR ‘PEAKED’

BUT PIQUED

‘PIQUED MY INTEREST’

THIS HAS BEEN A CAPSLOCK PSA

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mechan1calavian

10 months ago

Meemaw Bucchi should meet meemaw Felmier, both grandsons are in the same sport team, imagine both of them on the stadium with a shirt of them and screaming at the top of their lungs to crush the enemy team!

Oh... Oh God... OH MY GOD......

I need to draw this!!!!!!!!

All I can think about is them fighting/scolding anyone who had the AUDACY to stop them or shout louder than them.

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mechan1calavian

3 months ago

BROOO!!! 🤣🤣🤣

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mechan1calavian

9 months ago

Jaiden said this and I was immediately going to draw this. I literally had no choice in the matter. ((Sorry for the messiness it's just a quick sketch))