Writing Tips

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 Nomaru666 and Others

10 months ago

Venti/Barbatos is the Jesus Christ himself 😎*phonk music*

why are there crosses in mondstadt, wrong answers only.

1 month ago

What if Danny photographs weird even in human form, and it outs him to his class. Like, his ghostly traits are more prominent or something. So he just leans into it to get them to keep their mouths shut.

Danny, staring wide-eyed at the class photo being projected on the whiteboard: eh... shit..

Mr. Lancer, looking between the photo and Danny: Who are you?

Danny, glancing at his horrified classmates: Er, still Danny Fenton, unfortunately

Dash: Fenturd is possessed??

Danny: What?? No!

Kwan: Then-?

Danny: Ugh! I died a while ago! It's not my fault you didn't notice!

Mr. Lancer, paling: Great Scotts Fitzgerald! Mr. Fenton, how long?

Danny, awkwardly: So remember how I had an accident my freshman year? Cause yeah, didn't survive that.

Star, gasping: But-but-

Danny, sighing: Look, it's fine. Don't worry about it. Just pretend you don't know. My parents can't know. I'm not willing to see if their parental love will win out over their hatred for ghosts.

Dash: Fuck, I didn't think of that.

Danny, nods: I tried not to change my behavior too much so they won't catch on and ... vivisect? Dissect? Whichever applies in this situation. So they don't experiment on me.

Kwan: If you're dead... where's your body?

Danny: erm... I'm not sure it exists? I'd have to figure out how to turn off my parents' portal without it blowing up to check. I was standing inside it when it turned on. Got to say a hazmat suit does nothing to protect you from being torn apart by a portal to the Infinite Realms. It's an awful way to go.

Star, gasps: Wait! Phantom wears-!

Danny, changes to Phantom for shits and giggles: a hazmat suit? Yeah. I know.

Dash, faintly: I've been bullying my hero...

Mr. Lancer: Oh! That's why you run out of class!

Danny: mhm, I turned on the portal, the ghosts are my responsibility. I don't want anyone getting hurt, so I'll take the brunt of it until I die again.

Mr. Lancer: while that is admirable, Mr. Fenton, you are still a child. You shouldn't be dead or be carrying this burden.

Danny: Yeah, shouldn't, but am and do.

Star: We should make you a grave!

Danny: Huh??

Star: I assume you don't have one?

Danny: Well, no. Only my sister, Sam, and Tucker knew I was dead before this. We don't like to think about it more than we have to, plus there's no body to bury..

Star, turns to the rest of the class: Hear that! We're getting Phantom a gravelot and a headstone!

Paulina: It would be nice to have a spot to drop off gifts.

Kwan: And the Fenton siblings and their friends will have a spot to mourn.

Danny, touched: Thanks, guys. I...I didn't think I'd ever have a grave...

Ghost alarms start going off suddenly and the unmistakable sounds of the Fenton Parents start thundering towards them. Danny quickly turns back human and the whole class scatters as his parents burst in. No one outs Danny. They are actually nicer and body check Wes anytime he's close to outing Danny to anyone. Kwan is polite enough to explain the danger of outing Danny as a ghost when he lives with ghost hating parents after a while. Wes feels kind of dumb for not thinking about that and finally backs off.

3 weeks ago

so fucking evil that i don’t have the jagged pointy cartoon teeth that fit together like triangles. i deserve them

1 month ago

[about my own oc, who i created] in theory its possible she would say that, but we just dont know for sure

1 month ago

You found the creepy creatures in your fantasy rather cute, and to you, they are surprisingly affectionate. The citizens think you're a warlock because of it.

1 month ago

Danny after losing practically everything: I need someone to be my friend...

Danny: Maybe a group of angels

Danny: The nicest angels you have

Tim & The Og Young Justice getting out of a baseball game that decided the fate of an entire planet & WINNING IT: [Manical Group Laughter]

1 month ago
DRAG THAT BOY DOWN HERE 🗣️🗣️🗣️

DRAG THAT BOY DOWN HERE 🗣️🗣️🗣️


Tags
1 month ago

The Fae that trapped you in a Groundhog Day-style time loop is extremely frustrated that you’re taking advantage of the situation to just sleep all day, every day.

1 month ago

Venti: It's not gay if I want to date Zhongli but only as pals, right?

Nahida: I'm not an expert but that sounds pretty gay

Ei: I am an expert and that's incredibly gay

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nomaru666 - Nomaru
Nomaru

life be that tea cup ride and I'm riding in it with lunatics 🩵

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