2. Break and indent paragraphs for different speakers.  Because dialogue involves two or more speakers, we need something that lets readers know where one character’s speech ends and another’s begins.

3. Use quotation marks correctly.  Use quotation marks (“....”) around what the character says.  It’s ok to have more than 1 sentence between quotation marks, as long as the same character is speaking without being interrupted.

4. Punctuate your dialogue properly.  Use a comma to separate the dialogue tag from the dialogue.  If the dialogue tag is before the dialogue, the comma appears before the opening quotation mark: Ex. Mary argued, “But Laura didn’t have to finish her dinner!”  If the dialogue tag is after the dialogue, the comma appears before (inside) the closing quotation mark: Ex. “But Laura didn’t have to finish her dinner,” argued Mary.

5. Capitalize the quoted speech. Ex. Mary argued, "But Laura didn’t have to finish her dinner!"

6. Make sure the reader knows who is speaking.  Use dialogue tags (Mary said/Peter replied) ◦ Use a variety: said, shouted, scorned, replied, answered, whispered, mumbled, howled, etc.

7.  Danielle said, “i would love to stay for supper.”  Jeremy asked, how long does it take to drive to Lumsden?  “I love hunting” Sandy exclaimed!  The children mumbled, “We don’t want to go to sleep.” “We want to stay up to watch the fireworks!”