DIALOGUE

RULE #1 Direct quotation: “I think I like Beatrice,” John said. Use quotation marks to enclose a direct quotation, a person’s exact words. Direct quotation: “I think I like Beatrice,” John said. Indirect quotation: Yesterday John told his friend that he liked Beatrice. NOTICE THERE ARE NO QUOTATION MARKS! WHY?

RULE #2 “You like who?” asked Tom. A direct quotation begins with a capital letter. “You like who?” asked Tom. John rolled his eyes and responded annoyed, “Beatrice.”

RULE #3 “I could be wrong,” Tom said, “but isn’t she dating Doug?” When a quote is divided by phrases such as “he said” or “Mother asked”, the second part begins with a lower case letter. “I could be wrong,” Tom said, “but isn’t she dating Doug?”

RULE #4 “That’s just a rumor,” snapped John defensively. Commas and periods that end the quote are always placed INSIDE the closing quotation marks. “That’s just a rumor,” snapped John defensively. Tom replied with a smirk, “If you say so.”

RULE #5 ? and ! are also placed INSIDE the closing marks. Later in Math class, Tom whispered to Lisa, “Did you hear that John likes Beatrice?” “No way!” Lisa whispered back. “She’s had a thing for him forever!”

RULE #6 Lisa continued, “I heard her say, ‘He’s so cute!’ ” If you quote someone within a quote, single quotation marks are used. Lisa continued, “I heard her say, ‘He’s so cute!’ ”

RULE #7 “So she doesn’t like Doug?” Tom asked. “Because I heard…” Every new quotation is its own paragraph with indentation!!!!!! “So she doesn’t like Doug?” Tom asked. “Because I heard…” “No. He can’t talk about anyone but himself,” groaned Lisa. “I’ve gotta tell John it’s OK to go for it!” Tom said. Tom always liked being involved in drama that was not his own. “Don’t you dare tell him I told you!” threatened Lisa. Lisa also always liked being involved in drama that was not her own. Indented Indented Indented Indented

Rule #8 Use commas to prepare the reader for the quote to come. Before a quote begins, the comma is set OUTSIDE the quotes. Lisa saw Beatrice at her locker later that day and said, “So, anybody ask you out lately?” Beatrice looked suspicious and said, “Why do you ask?” Suddenly, John appeared from around the corner. He stopped short and looked at Beatrice. Lisa looked from one to the other and said, “Gotta go!” She left leaving the two by the lockers.

NOW, LET’ PUT IT ALL TOGETHER ASSIGNMENT: Write down the following dialogue and enter in the correct punctuation. John finally worked up the courage to talk to Beatrice. He took a deep breath. Hello said John. Hey said Beatrice. What are you doing this summer he asked. Just hanging out she answered. There was an awkward silence as she looked at her toes and he shuffled his feet. Wanna go to a movie they both said in unison. John finally worked up the courage to talk to Beatrice. He took a deep breath. “Hello,” said John. “Hey,” said Beatrice. “What are you doing this summer?” he asked. “Just hanging out,” she answered. There was an awkward silence as she looked at her toes and he shuffled his feet. “Wanna go to a movie?” they both said in unison.

THE END