Dialogue: Rules for writing direct quotations in a conversation.
- A direct quotation begins and ends with quotation marks.
- The first word of a direct quotation begins with a capital letter.
- Begin a new paragraph each time a different person speaks.
- When a direct quotation comes at the end of a sentence, put a comma after the speaker’s word and before the first quotation marks.
Tim said, “Math is my favorite subject.”
- When a direct quotation is a question or exclamation, put the punctuation mark before the last quotation mark.
“What is your favorite subject?” asked Tim.
- When a direct quotation begins a sentence, and it is a statement or a command, put a comma at the end before the last quotation marks.
“Reading is my favorite,” replied Emily.