1. Dialogue
Punctuation

2. When someone speaks in a text, what they say is enclosed in quotation marks.
“You make me angry.”
End punctuation is part of what is being said so it goes inside the quotes.

3. A speech tag is describing how the dialogue is being said.
“What?” Phil asked in his confusion.
Since it’s not part of what is being said, it is not included in quotation marks.
Speech tag

4. The best way to identify where to put the quotation marks in dialogue is to underline the speech tag to isolate what is not part of what is being said.
     I have no idea what I’m doing   Jeff explained. “ “ ,

5. “ “ , John looked at Carrie and asked What is going on in your mind?
Put a comma to separate the speech tag and the quotation.
You didn’t invite me to your party Tina pouted.
Are you serious Amy questioned or are you teasing me?
How long a hike is it Ray asked. I don't know whether I have the energy. “
All one sentence with a speech tag in the middle. “ “ “ , ,
Two sentences from the same person.

6. You make me angry. What is being said.
To review because you were paying more attention to the graphics than me. . .
You make me angry What is being said.
"You make me angry. " Put quotation marks around what is being said.

7. At the beginning: The teacher yelled, "You make me angry. "
Add a speech tag so the reader knows how the line should be read.
At the beginning: The teacher yelled, "You make me angry. "
The quotes are still around what is being said.
There’s always a comma between the speech tag and the quote.
The period is still at the end of the sentence inside the quotes because it’s the END OF THE SENTENCE.

8. You cannot have a sentence without end punctuation.
The period goes at the end of the sentence.
The quotes are still around what is being said.
At the end of the sentence: “You make me angry,” the teacher yelled.
There’s always a comma between the speech tag and the quote.
You cannot have a sentence without end punctuation.

9. “You make me angry,” the teacher yelled,
Speech tag in the middle of the sentence Pay attention; this is where it gets confusing.
The speech tag is NOT what’s being said so there are NO quotation marks around it.
The quotes are still around what is being said.
“You make me angry,” the teacher yelled,
There’s always a comma between the speech tag and the quote.
There’s always a comma between the speech tag and the quote.

10. Speech tag in the middle of the sentence
Speech tag in the middle of the sentence Pay attention; this is where it gets confusing.
Quotes go around what is being said.
The speech tag is NOT what’s being said so there are NO quotation marks around it. “ “
“You make me angry,” the teacher yelled,
especially today.
Period ends the sentence
There’s always a comma between the speech tag and the quote.

11. RECAP
“You make me angry especially today.”
the teacher yelled

12. RECAP " " “You make me angry , especially today.” , the teacher yelled
Commas always go between the quote and the speech tag.
Quotes go around what is being said.

13. You make me angry the teacher yelled. , Stop it.
But what if it’s two sentences said by the same person?
"
"
"
"
You make me angry the teacher yelled. ,
Stop it.
See the difference?
“You make me angry,” the teacher yelled, “especially today.”
“You make me angry,” the teacher yelled. “Stop it.”

14. Spacing in dialogue
When there are two people talking, separate what each is saying with a space and indent.
“You make me angry,” the teacher yelled. “Stop it.” She put her head down on the desk and sighed heavily.
“We are so sorry,” the class responded. “We will pay more attention when you try to teach us how to write dialogue properly.” They each hung their heads in shame.

15. Spacing in dialogue
“You make me angry,” the teacher yelled. “Stop it.” She put her head down on the desk and sighed heavily.
“We are so sorry,” the class responded. “We will pay more attention when you try to teach us how to write dialogue properly.” They each hung their heads in shame.
The teacher lifted her head with hope in her heart. Perhaps now they will use end punctuation for every sentence, commas in the proper place, and quotation marks only around what is being said.

16. Things to Remember
Do not use end punctuation and a comma between the dialogue and speech tag. (You make me angry!”, yelled the teacher.) Use one or the other.
Start a new paragraph and INDENT every time a new character talks.
Start a new paragraph and INDENT when you go from dialogue back to the story.