PUNCTUATING DIALOUE Writing workshop#1

DIALOGUE = SPEAKER + TAG The Three Scenarios Tag at the begiNninG Tag at the end Tag in the middlE

Ms. Martin said, “Reading is awesome.” SCENARIO #1 TAG AT THE BEGINNING Ms. Martin said, “Reading is awesome.” Comma BEFORE opening quotation mark AFTER speaker tag Capitalize beginning of dialogue sentence inside quotation marks Period at end of dialogue sentence INSIDE quotation marks

EXAMPLE #1 mom said do your homework Mom said, “Do your homework.”

EXAMPLE #2 I replied my homework is already done

“Reading is awesome,” Ms. Martin said. SCENARIO #2 TAG AT THE END “Reading is awesome,” Ms. Martin said. Capitalize beginning of dialogue sentence inside quotation marks Comma at end of dialogue sentence INSIDE quotation marks Period AFTER the tag at the end of the sentence

EXAMPLE #1 do your homework mom said “Do your homework,” mom said.

EXAMPLE #2 my homework is already done I replied

“Reading is,” Ms. Martin said, “awesome.” SCENARIO #3 TAG IN THE MIDDLE “Reading is,” Ms. Martin said, “awesome.” Capitalize beginning of dialogue sentence inside quotation marks Comma INSIDE quotation marks before tag Comma BEFORE quotation marks after tag Lower case second part of dialogue to indicate same sentence Period at end of dialogue sentence INSIDE quotation marks

EXAMPLE #1 do your mom said homework “Do your,” mom said, “homework.”

EXAMPLE #2 my homework I replied is already done