How to use quotation marks correctly in your stories!
#1 He said,“ I like pizza.”
#1 He said,“ I like pizza.” Put a comma before the dialogue begins
#1 He said,“ I like pizza.” Put a comma before the dialogue begins Opening quotation marks
#1 He said,“ I like pizza.” Put a comma before the dialogue begins Opening quotation marks Capital letter for first word spoken
#1 He said,“ I like pizza.” Put a comma before the dialogue begins Opening quotation marks A period is needed at the end of the sentence – notice it comes BEFORE the closing quotation marks! Capital letter for first word spoken
#1 He said,“ I like pizza.” Put a comma before the dialogue begins Opening quotation marks Closing quotation marks A period is needed at the end of the sentence – notice it comes BEFORE the closing quotation marks! Capital letter for first word spoken
Now, copy example #1 onto your note page. Copy carefully!
Example #1 He said,“ I like pizza.”
#2 “ I like pizza,” he said.
#2 “ I like pizza,” he said. Opening quotation marks
#2 “ I like pizza,” he said. Opening quotation marks Capital letter for first word spoken
#2 “ I like pizza,” he said. Put a comma when the dialogue ends – note it goes BEFORE the closing quotation marks Opening quotation marks Capital letter for first word spoken
#2 “ I like pizza,” he said. Put a comma when the dialogue ends – note it goes BEFORE the closing quotation marks Opening quotation marks Closing quotation marks Capital letter for first word spoken
#2 “ I like pizza,” he said. Put a comma when the dialogue ends – note it goes BEFORE the closing quotation marks Opening quotation marks A period is needed at the end of the sentence Closing quotation marks Capital letter for first word spoken
Now, copy example #2 onto your note page. Copy carefully!
#2 “ I like pizza,” he said.
#3 – When dialogue is interrupted “ I would like pizza,” he said, “ for all of my meals !”
#3 – When dialogue is interrupted “ I would like pizza,” he said, “ for all of my meals !” Opening quotation marks
#3 – When dialogue is interrupted “ I would like pizza,” he said, “ for all of my meals !” Put a comma before the interruption Opening quotation marks
#3 – When dialogue is interrupted “ I would like pizza,” he said, “ for all of my meals !” Put a comma before the interruption Opening quotation marks Mid-point quotation marks
#3 – When dialogue is interrupted “ I would like pizza,” he said, “ for all of my meals !” Put a comma before the interruption Opening quotation marks Another comma is needed before the person starts speaking again Mid-point quotation marks
#3 – When dialogue is interrupted “ I would like pizza,” he said, “ for all of my meals !” Put a comma before the interruption Opening quotation marks Another comma is needed before the person starts speaking again Mid-point quotation marks Opening quotation marks...again!
#3 – When dialogue is interrupted “ I would like pizza,” he said, “ for all of my meals !” Put a comma before the interruption Opening quotation marks Another comma is needed before the person starts speaking again Mid-point quotation marks Opening quotation marks...again! Final punctuation and then closing quotation marks
Now, copy example #3 onto your note page. Copy carefully!
#3 – When dialogue is interrupted “ I would like pizza,” he said, “ for all of my meals !”
“ I like pizza, ” he said. He said,“ I like pizza.” “ I would like pizza, ” he said, “ for all of my meals ! ”
Now, check your dialogue in your story...with a coloured pen, edit your quotation marks carefully !
Dialogu e!
Formatting Dialogue: New Speaker, New Line Each time a new speaker speaks place the line of dialogue on a new line. This line should also be indented (assuming you are indenting new paragraphs).
Every time someone new speaks in your story, you must GO TO THE NEXT LINE and INDENT! Example Wilma and Pebbles were busy baking the cake for Fred’s birthday surprise party. “Look, it’s almost ready to take the cake out of the oven,” said Wilma. “Mom, may I put the icing on daddy’s cake?” asked Pebbles. “Sure,” replied Wilma, “when it’s ready.”
Now, go to your story and make sure that every time someone new speaks, that the dialogue is indented and formatted correctly.