1. Quotation Marks Use quotation marks at the beginning and at the end of a direct quotation. Joe said, “I’m going to wash my car.”

2. Quotation marks are not to be used with indirect quotes. Joe said that he was going to wash his car. Explanatory words before a direct quotation are followed by a comma. My uncle answered, “I’ll send you a postcard.” The period at the end of the sentence is placed inside the quotation marks.

3. “I’ll send you a postcard,” my uncle answered. Explanatory words after a direct quotation are followed by a period. The words of a direct quotation are followed by a comma inside the quotation marks.

4. Commas are not used after a quotation when the quotation is a question. “What are you doing here?” asked the baker. “You had better hand over that jacket, Mrs. Mock!” yelled the security guard. Commas are not used after a quotation when the quotation is an interjection. Place question marks and exclamation points inside the quotation marks if they belong to the quotation itself.

5. “If that team wins,” Patty whispered, “Ill be surprised.” Use quotation marks before and after each part of the quotation. The second part of the divided quotation is not capitalized unless it is a proper noun or unless it starts a new sentence. Divided Quotations Notice the commas. “If you’re ready,” said Paul, “we can leave now.” “I saw Mr. Prichard,” said Amy. “He was in the hall.” Use a period, not a comma, when the second part is a new sentence.

6. Punctuating Direct Quotations Did Rachel say, “Meet me in the library”? Place question marks and exclamation points inside quotation marks if they belong to the quotation itself. Mother said to Tim, “Have you finished the dishes?” Place question marks and exclamation points outside quotation marks if they do not belong to the quotation. “Look out!” Dad shouted. The teacher said, “There is no homework tonight”!