1. Dialogue Rules Class Notes

2. Dialogue Rules Class Notes Examples: Ron told us that he would come to the movie later. My sister explained to me that calculating percentages is easier when you move the decimal point. Joseph informed me that he and mom would not be coming to dinner. Rule #1: If you are not using a person’s exact words (paraphrasing), then do NOT use quote marks. (Clue: It will be likely in 3rd person).

3. Dialogue Rules Class Notes Examples: “This math homework is very challenging,” she said. Katie asked, “Why does this assignment seem so difficult?” “Why does this assignment seem so difficult?” Katie asked. “Turn in your math homework on time!” Mrs. Peacock commanded. Rule #2: If the person’s words ask a question, state a command, or make a statement, place the appropriate punctuation INSIDE the quote marks

4. Dialogue Rules Class Notes Examples: “I’m trying to help,” explained Mrs. Adamson, “but you’re making it very difficult for me.” “Stop it,” he snarled, “before I get really angry.” “I can’t believe,” the girl sobbed, “that you’re breaking up with me!” Rule #3: When a person’s sentence is interrupted with a dialogue tag, place a comma and a quote mark before AND after the tag

5. Dialogue Rules Class Notes Examples: “I’m trying to help,” explained Mrs. Adamson. “Unfortunately, you’re making it very difficult for me!” “Stop it,” he snarled. “If you don’t want trouble, stop it!” “I can’t believe how insensitive you are,” the girl sobbed. “I can’t believe that you’re breaking up with me!” Rule #4: If a statement ends before the dialogue tag, place a comma and quote mark after the statement and a period after the tag.

6. Dialogue Rules Class Notes Examples: “Stop it,” Jim snarled. “If you don’t want any more trouble, stop crying!” “Jim, I can’t believe how insensitive you are,” the girl sobbed. “I can’t believe that you’re breaking up with me!” Jim replied, “Well, I am, and there is nothing you can do about it.” Rule #5: Begin a new paragraph EACH time the speaker changes.

7. Dialogue Rules Class Notes Examples: “Listen, everybody,” said Mr. Braam. “Later today we are going to have a lot of fun and watch a movie. “The first thing we will do, though, is take a test.” Rule #6: If you quote the same person or source using more than one paragraph, place quotation marks BEFORE each paragraph and then only at the end of the LAST paragraph

8. Dialogue Rules Class Notes Examples: “Listen, everybody,” said Mr. Braam. “My favorite poetry quote is, ‘I will show you fear in a handful of dust.’ My favorite song lyrics are, ‘The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love, and be loved, in return.’ My favorite songs, though, are ‘Music of the Night’ and ‘Big Spender.’” Rule #7: Use single quotes when quoting something already within quote marks

9. Dialogue Rules Class Notes Examples: “Listen, everybody,” said Mr. Braam. “My favorite poetry quote is, ‘I will show you fear in a handful of dust.’ “But my favorite song lyrics are, ‘The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love, and be loved, in return.’” Rule #8: If you quote the same person or source using more than one paragraph, place quotation marks before each paragraph and the end of the last paragraph. A quote within a quote at the end of a line, however, still keeps the single quote.

10. Dialogue Rules Class Notes More Quotation Mark Punctuation Notes: Examples: “L isten to me,” said Mark. “Here is the answer.” Commas and periods ALWAYS go inside quote marks.

11. Dialogue Rules Class Notes More Quotation Mark Punctuation Notes: Examples: Ji m wrote about “Thirteen Rules to Zen Combat”; it was too deep for me to understand. Semicolons and colons ALWAYS go outside quote marks.

12. Dialogue Rules Class Notes “Am I dreaming?” Exclamation marks and question marks go INSIDE the quotation marks when they punctuate the quotation … Had she heard him say, “Here’s the key to your new car”? … and OUTSIDE the quotation marks when it punctuates the main sentence.