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Writing dialogue can be difficult. But at least there’s one aspect of it that comes with straightforward rules, and that’s punctuation.
If you’ve ever wondered how to use quotation marks or commas in dialogue, this punctuation guide can help you.
Of course, it can help to hire a good editor who can get your dialogue punctuation just right. If you’re in the United States, your editor will be familiar with The Chicago Manual of Style, which is what the rules here are largely based on.
But to be the best writer you can be, you’ll want to learn how to nail the rules of dialogue punctuation yourself.
Here’s what to know about how to punctuate dialogue.
When punctuation goes inside quotation marks
Most of the time, you’ll put your punctuation inside the closing quotation marks. In American English, commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks, even if they aren’t part of the original quote.
For example:
“I can't believe it,” she said. “That was amazing.”
She said it was “urgent.” I don’t know if I should believe her.
Question and marks and exclamation points also go inside the quotation marks, as long as the question or exclamation is part of the quoted content:
“Are you coming with us?” he asked.
“I’m so excited!” she said.
When punctuation goes outside quotation marks
There are some instances when question marks and exclamation points go outside the closing quotation mark. If the whole sentence is a question or exclamation, but the quote is not, then the question mark or exclamation point goes outside the quotation marks.
Examples:
Did she really say, “I don't care”?
She had the nerve to tell me she was “bored”!
Have you ever heard the saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned”?
If a colon or semicolon follows the quoted material, place it outside the quotation marks. For example:
She said it was “urgent”; I believed her.
My mother would call it “tough love”: strict but well-meaning.
How to use quotation marks
In American English, double quotation marks (“ ”) are standard for dialogue. Use an opening double quotation mark at the beginning and a closing double quotation mark at the end. This helps distinguish lines of dialogue from the rest of the text.
“Let’s go to the park,” he said.
If there’s a quote within the dialogue, use single quotation marks (‘ ’) inside the double ones.
For example:
“When she said, ‘I’m done,’ I knew it was over.”
“Did she just say, ‘I’m not interested’?” he asked.
In British English, the convention is often reversed: use single quotation marks for dialogue, and double quotation marks for quotations within dialogue.
Example (UK style):
‘When she said, “I’m done,” I knew it was over.’
Be consistent with whichever style you use.
Punctuation for dialogue tags vs. action tags
Dialogue tags are phrases that indicate which character is speaking, such as “she said.” Action tags are descriptions of what the character is doing during the conversation, such as “He slammed the door.”
For dialogue tags, use a comma before the closing question mark.
For example:
“I’m finished with this conversation,” he grumbled.
An action tag is a separate sentence. Use a period, rather than a comma, to separate it from the dialogue.
For example:
“I’m finished with this conversation.” He slammed the door.
How to use commas for dialogue
Commas help connect spoken words to the dialogue tags that identify the speaker.
When the dialogue comes before a tag like “they said” or “she asked,” place a comma inside the quotation marks.
Example:
“I don’t know,” she said.
If the spoken words come first, place a comma after the dialogue tag to introduce the quote.
Example:
She said, “I don’t know.”
What about when a dialogue tag interrupts the dialogue? Punctuation in this case would depend on whether the dialogue tag is in the middle of one sentence or between two sentences.
If the dialogue continues as part of the same sentence, use a comma after the tag, and don’t capitalize the first word of the resumed dialogue.
Example:
“Well,” she said, “if you’re sure, then let’s go.”
Here, the dialogue flows as a single sentence, even though it’s interrupted by the tag.
If the dialogue continues with a new sentence, use a period after the tag and capitalize the first word of the new sentence.
Example:
“I thought it was over,” he said. “But I was wrong.”
Avoid using a comma when the dialogue ends with a question mark or exclamation point, even if a dialogue tag follows.
Examples:
“Are you coming with us?” he asked.
“I can’t believe this!” she said.
Interrupting dialogue with em dashes and ellipses
Your characters don’t always get to finish their sentences.
Use an em dash (—) to indicate that a speaker has been interrupted or cut off. The dash comes just before the closing quotation mark, with no comma.
Example:
“I was going to tell you, but—”
“No excuses!”
To show a speaker trailing off or fading out, use an ellipsis (…). This indicates hesitation, uncertainty, or an unfinished thought. Place the ellipsis inside the quotation marks, with no comma.
Example:
“I thought I knew what I was doing…”
If a character pauses mid-sentence to perform an action before continuing, set off the action with em dashes.
Place the em dashes outside the quotation marks and resume the dialogue as part of the same sentence, if appropriate. This signals a pause for the action without ending the sentence.
Use lower case for the action beat, unless it starts with a proper noun, like a character’s name.
Example:
“Are you really sure”—he lowered his voice and glanced around—“that we’d get away with it?”
Make sure the punctuation reflects your character’s rhythm of speech. Use em dashes for abrupt cuts, ellipses for hesitation, and full stops where a thought clearly ends.
Start a new paragraph for a new speaker
This one’s not a hard and fast rule. But it’s generally a best practice for the sake of clarity.
Each time a new character speaks, start a new paragraph. This keeps the conversation readable. It also adds more clarity about who’s speaking. Even without using a dialogue tag, you can indicate who’s speaking by starting a new paragraph.
For example:
“Are you going?” she asked.
“Not yet,” he replied.
“Then hurry up.”
If it’s more your style to have multiple speakers in the same paragraph, that’s an option. But make sure you’re super clear about who’s saying what.
When dialogue continues in the next paragraph
When you have a character giving a monologue or a long explanation, their dialogue might run longer than one paragraph.
If your character’s speech continues into the next paragraph, begin the new paragraph with an opening quotation mark, but do not close the quote at the end of the previous paragraph. Only close the quotation at the end of the final paragraph.
Example:
“This is going to take a while,” she began. “First, let’s look at the records.
“Then we’ll review the reports.
“And finally, we’ll make our decision.”
This format signals to readers that the same character is still speaking.
The bottom line
Mastering dialogue punctuation may seem like a small detail, but it makes a big difference in how smoothly your writing reads.
Following these rules will help your writing look polished and professional, letting your characters’ voices shine through without distraction.