Quotation Marks Notes

Part 1 Dialogue

In a narrative use quotation marks when writing what a character says aloud.

Rule #3 A direct quotation by a character begins with a capital letter.

Example: The Highwayman says, “One kiss my bonnie sweetheart.”

Rule #4 When an expression identifying the speaker interrupts a quoted sentence, the second part of the quotation begins with a lowercase letter. Note the comma placement.

Example: “Give me liberty,” said Patrick Henry, “or give me death!”

Rule #5 A direct quotation followed by the narrator’s identification will be set off by a comma, question mark, or exclamation point, but not a period.

Example: “One kiss, my bonnie sweetheart,” said the Highwayman.

Example: “Give me liberty or give me death!” shouted Patrick Henry.

Rule #6 When you write dialogue (a conversation), begin a new paragraph every time the speaker changes.

Rule #7 When a quotation consists of more than one sentence, put quotation marks only at the beginning and the end of the whole quotation.

Example: “One kiss, my bonnie sweetheart. I’m after a prize tonight,” said the Highwayman.

Students interpreted a comic strip and re-wrote the dialogue in paragraph form.

“Stupid weather!” exclaimed Lucy.

“Are you complaining again? Do you realize,” Linus accused his sister, “that you spend all your time complaining?”

“Why shouldn’t I complain? It’s the only thing I’m really good at,” Lucy grumbled.