Punctuating Speech Flashcards

All 11 cards in this deck

What are the basic rules for punctuating direct speech?

Put speech marks around the words actually spoken. Start the speech with a capital letter. Put the punctuation that ends the speech inside the closing speech marks.

How do you punctuate speech when the reporting clause comes after it?

End the speech with a comma inside the speech marks, then start the reporting clause in lower case: "I'm leaving," she said.

How do you punctuate speech when the reporting clause comes first?

Put a comma after the reporting clause, then open the speech with a capital letter: She said, "I'm leaving."

How do you punctuate a spoken question or exclamation before the reporting clause?

Use the ? or ! inside the speech marks, with no comma, and keep the reporting clause in lower case: "Are you coming?" he asked.

How do you punctuate one spoken sentence that is interrupted by the reporting clause?

Use commas on both sides of the reporting clause, and carry on in lower case: "If you go," she said, "don't come back."

How do you punctuate speech where a new spoken sentence starts after the reporting clause?

Put a full stop after the reporting clause and a capital letter at the start of the new speech: "I'm going," she said. "Don't wait up."

What is the rule about new speakers in dialogue?

Every time the speaker changes, start a new line (a new paragraph). It makes it clear who's talking without adding he said every time.

What is the difference between direct and reported speech?

Direct speech gives the exact words in speech marks: "I'm tired," said Leo. Reported speech retells them without speech marks, usually shifting the tense: Leo said that he was tired.

Correct this: "I'm tired." he said.

"I'm tired,**" he said. When a reporting clause follows the speech, the speech ends with a comma, not a full stop, because the whole thing is one sentence.

How much dialogue should you use in a Q5 story?

Not much. Examiners criticise stories that are mostly dialogue. A few lines, used to reveal character or tension and punctuated perfectly, show AO6 control; pages of chat don't.

Should you use single or double speech marks?

Either is fine. Pick one style and use it consistently. If someone quotes another person within their speech, switch to the other style for the inner quotation.