Dialogue How to properly punctuate the words your characters speak.

Dialogue – Spoken Word All words someone says in a text are surrounded by quotation marks. All words someone says in a text are surrounded by quotation marks. Example: Example: “I think it will rain today,” my mother said to my brother.

I walked into the room. Mary was there. She asked, “What are you doing?” I said, “I just came in to see if you wanted to start dinner.” “I already ate before I came home.” I said, “Well, will you help me anyway?” “No.” I asked her, “Why not?” She screamed, “Because I already ate! What’s wrong with you?” “Nothing,” I said. “I’m going to leave,” I said. “Fine,” she said, and went back to looking at the TV. I left the room. What is Wrong Here?

Dialogue Rules There are specific punctuation rules for dialogue in writing There are specific punctuation rules for dialogue in writing We will start with the basics We will start with the basics dialogue dialogue “I want an iPad for Christmas,” my sister said. dialogue tag dialogue tag

Dialogue Tag First Mrs. Jones replied, “The door was recently pained green.” Dialogue Tag Last “The door was recently pained green,” Mrs. Jones replied.

Other Words That Mean Said AgreedAnsweredAskedBarkedBeggedBreathedCalledChattedChatteredCheeredComplainedComplimentedCoughedCried OfferedOrderedPantedPleadedRepeatedRepliedSangScreamedShoutedShriekedSighedSnappedSneeredSniffled SnortedSqueakedStammeredStutteredTattledToldTweetedWailedWarnedWhinedWhisperedWishedWonderedYelledCroakedDemandedEchoedExclaimedExplainedFrownedGaspedGiggledGrowledGruntedLaughedMoanedMumbledMuttered

Keep commas and periods inside the quotation marks Examples: “ I do not know,” yelled Albert. “ I do not know,” yelled Albert. Albert yelled, “I do not know.” Albert yelled, “I do not know.” Which one is correct? The teacher screamed, “Everyone needs to line up at the door”. The teacher screamed, “Everyone needs to line up at the door”. The teacher screamed, “Everyone needs to line up at the door.” The teacher screamed, “Everyone needs to line up at the door.”

Start a new paragraph each time the speaker changes. “You can be so cruel some times!” Mary wailed. “Oh I suppose you’ll go crying to your mother now,” Fred sighed. “At least she understands me,” sobbed Mary.

When only two people are talking you do not have to keep using their names. “I understand how you feel, alright?” “I understand how you feel, alright?” “You do?” “You do?” “Aw, you know I do.” “Aw, you know I do.” “And do you care about me?” “And do you care about me?” “Of course I do.” “Of course I do.” “So you’ll take the truck back?” “So you’ll take the truck back?” “Over my dead body!” “Over my dead body!”

Exclamations and Questions An exclamation point or question mark is placed inside the quotation marks when it punctuates the quotation. It is placed outside when it punctuates the main sentence. An exclamation point or question mark is placed inside the quotation marks when it punctuates the quotation. It is placed outside when it punctuates the main sentence. For example: For example: I almost fell over when he asked, “That won’t be a problem for you, will it?” I almost fell over when he asked, “That won’t be a problem for you, will it?” Did the teacher really say, “Finish by tomorrow”? Did the teacher really say, “Finish by tomorrow”?

Exclamations and Questions When using exclamations and questions in your dialogue be sure to properly punctuate the words following the marks. If the sentence continues and the following words are not proper nouns then you DO NOT capitalize the next word. When using exclamations and questions in your dialogue be sure to properly punctuate the words following the marks. If the sentence continues and the following words are not proper nouns then you DO NOT capitalize the next word. For example: For example: “Did you hear Mr. Marcoux?” asked Steve. “Did you hear Mr. Marcoux?” asked Steve. “Watch out!” warned John. “Watch out!” warned John. “No homework tonight!” Mrs. Tomao asserted. “No homework tonight!” Mrs. Tomao asserted.

Things to remember when writing dialogue Write it as realistically as possible. Write it as realistically as possible. Make it clear who is speaking when. Make it clear who is speaking when. Do not give too much information or unrealistic information in dialogue. Do not give too much information or unrealistic information in dialogue. Keep the conversation moving. Keep the conversation moving. Make it as easy to read as possible. Make it as easy to read as possible.

Rules of punctuating dialogue Start a new paragraph when a new person speaks or a large passage of action interrupts the speaking. Start a new paragraph when a new person speaks or a large passage of action interrupts the speaking. Use quotation marks to surround all spoken words on both sides. Use quotation marks to surround all spoken words on both sides. Use speaker tags to show who is talking Use speaker tags to show who is talking Use the proper end marks. Use the proper end marks. Endmarks always go inside the quotes. Endmarks always go inside the quotes.

Endmarks – possibly the most difficult part of dialogue. Use a comma if the dialogue is a statement and there is a speaker tag following. Example: “Welcome home,” she said, stepping forward to take his hand.

When a speaker tag interrupts the speech... Treat it as parenthetical information and use a comma on either side. “I can’t believe,” she said, “that you are finally here.”

Use a period... If no speaker tag follows the quotation: “Welcome home.” She stepped forward to take his hand. “Thank you.” He offered his own hand in return.

When a question mark or exclamation point is used... Follow with a lowercase letter if a speaker tag is being used. Follow with a lowercase letter if a speaker tag is being used. Use a capital if it goes right into action. Use a capital if it goes right into action.

“It has been so long!” she exclaimed. “Hasn’t it?” Her hand was warm in his own as he smiled down at her. Example:

Practise Exercises

“Stop!” Buddy cried as they approached another intersection. At this one, the light had burned out and a tall oak stood off to one side. “Let me out here.” Are you crazy,” Joe asked. “It’s still at least another twenty miles to Mud Bucket! “Just let me out, Joe. I mean it.” Buddy had become desperate. He could think of nothing else he wanted more than to become a famous musician, and if it took selling his soul to the devil to do it, then he would. Joe pulled the truck over onto the gravel at the side of the road and rolled to a stop. “Are you sure about this? It’s freakin’ creepy out there, man.” “I have my phone. I’ll call if something happens. “Well,” Said Joe. “don’t think I’m coming back out here for your sorry butt,” Buddy got out, slammed the door shut, and Joe spun off onto the highway, his tires screeching on the blacktop.

“Stop!” Buddy cried as they approached another intersection. At this one, the light had burned out and a tall oak stood off to one side. “Let me out here.” “Are you crazy?” Joe asked. “It’s still at least another twenty miles to Mud Bucket!” “Just let me out, Joe. I mean it.” Buddy had become desperate. He could think of nothing else he wanted more than to become a famous musician, and if it took selling his soul to the devil to do it, then he would. Joe pulled the truck over onto the gravel at the side of the road and rolled to a stop. “Are you sure about this? It’s freakin’ creepy out there, man.” “I have my phone. I’ll call if something happens.” “Well,” said Joe, “don’t think I’m coming back out here for your sorry butt.” Buddy got out, slammed the door shut, and Joe spun off onto the highway, his tires screeching on the blacktop.

I walked into the room. Mary was there. She asked, “What are you doing?” “I just came in to see if you wanted to start dinner.” “I already ate before I came home.” “Well, will you help me anyway?” “No.” I asked her, “Why not?” “Because I already ate!” she screamed. “What’s wrong with you?” “Nothing,” I said. “I’m going to leave.” “Fine,” she said, and went back to looking at the TV. I left the room.