Using Dialogue in Narrative Writing

When characters speak, their exact language should be in quotes, and the reader should know who’s speaking. There are two types of dialogue: direct and indirect Direct dialogue is speech using the character’s exact words. In this case, quotation marks are used. Indirect dialogue is a second-hand report of something that was said or written but NOT the exact words in their original form.

Here are some rules to follow when writing direct dialogue in your narratives: Rule #1: Use quotation marks to indicate the words that are spoken by the characters. Example: “Help me!” exclaimed the little girl. Rule #2: Always begin a new paragraph when the speaker changes. Example:  “I am coming home,” Sue announced. “I am really tired and can’t work anymore.” “Okay, I think you should do that,” her husband agreed. Rule #3: Make sure the reader knows who is doing the talking. Rule #4: Use correct punctuation marks and capitalization. Example:  “May I buy a new pair of shoes?” Lauren asked her mom. Note that the quotation marks are outside the end punctuation of the quote; the rest of the sentence has its own end punctuation. If the quote is not a question or exclamation, use a comma and not a period before the second quotation marks. “I bought a new jacket yesterday,” Tammy said.

Indirect Dialogue A summary of words spoken, written smoothly without quotation marks. The exact words spoken are unimportant, but readers need to know that the conversation occurred and generally what it was about.

Punctuating Dialogue Dialogue is written conversation The speaker’s words are set apart from the rest of the sentence with quotation marks Begin the first word of the quotation with a capital letter; place end punctuation inside the quotation marks Terry said, “Let’s go swimming.” “This beach is closing,” the lifeguard announced. *Notice that a comma separates the speaker from the quotation

When a quotation ends in a question mark or exclamation point, don’t add a comma “What time will the beach open?” I asked. Sometimes a quotation is interrupted in the middle. End the first part with quotation marks and begin the next part with quotation marks. Use commas to separate the quotation from the speaker “Do you realize,” asked Rob, “that we forgot the raft?” If the second part of the interrupted quotation begins a new sentence, start it with a capital letter and use a period after the speaker. “It’s too late now,” I said. “We’ll have to come back later.”