How to use quotation marks correctly in your

stories!

#1

He said,“I like pizza.”

#1

He said,“I like pizza.”Put a comma before the dialogue begins

#1

He said,“I like pizza.”Put a comma before the dialogue begins

Opening quotation marks

#1

He said,“I like pizza.”Put a comma before the dialogue begins

Opening quotation marks

Capital letter for first word spoken

#1

He said,“I like pizza.”Put a comma before the dialogue begins

Opening quotation marks

A period is needed at the end of the sentence – notice it comes BEFORE the closing quotation marks!

Capital letter for first word spoken

#1

He said,“I like pizza.”Put a comma before the dialogue begins

Opening quotation marks Closing quotation marks

A period is needed at the end of the sentence – notice it comes BEFORE the closing quotation marks!

Capital letter for first word spoken

Now, copy example #1

onto your note page.

Copy carefully!

Example #1

He said,“I like pizza.”

#2

“I like pizza,”he said.

#2

“I like pizza,”he said.Opening quotation marks

#2

“I like pizza,”he said.Opening quotation marks

Capital letter for first word spoken

#2

“I like pizza,”he said.Put a comma when the dialogue ends – note it goes BEFORE the closing quotation marks

Opening quotation marks

Capital letter for first word spoken

#2

“I like pizza,”he said.Put a comma when the dialogue ends – note it goes BEFORE the closing quotation marks

Opening quotation marksClosing quotation marks

Capital letter for first word spoken

#2

“I like pizza,”he said.Put a comma when the dialogue ends – note it goes BEFORE the closing quotation marks

Opening quotation marks

A period is needed at the end of the sentence

Closing quotation marks

Capital letter for first word spoken

Now, copy example #2

onto your note page.

Copy carefully!

#2

“I like pizza,”he said.

#3 – When dialogue is interrupted

“I would like pizza,”he

said, “for all of my

meals!”

#3 – When dialogue is interrupted

“I would like pizza,”he

said, “for all of my

meals!”

Opening quotation marks

#3 – When dialogue is interrupted

“I would like pizza,”he

said, “for all of my

meals!”

Put a comma before the interruption

Opening quotation marks

#3 – When dialogue is interrupted

“I would like pizza,”he

said, “for all of my

meals!”

Put a comma before the interruption

Opening quotation marksMid-point quotation marks

#3 – When dialogue is interrupted

“I would like pizza,”he

said, “for all of my

meals!”

Put a comma before the interruption

Opening quotation marks

Another comma is needed before the person starts speaking again

Mid-point quotation marks

#3 – When dialogue is interrupted

“I would like pizza,”he

said, “for all of my

meals!”

Put a comma before the interruption

Opening quotation marks

Another comma is needed before the person starts speaking again

Mid-point quotation marks

Opening quotation marks...again!

#3 – When dialogue is interrupted

“I would like pizza,”he

said, “for all of my

meals!”

Put a comma before the interruption

Opening quotation marks

Another comma is needed before the person starts speaking again

Mid-point quotation marks

Opening quotation marks...again!

Final punctuation and then closing quotation marks

Now, copy example #3

onto your note page.

Copy carefully!

#3 – When dialogue is interrupted

“I would like pizza,”he

said, “for all of my

meals!”

“I like pizza,”he said.

He said,“I like pizza.”

“I would like pizza,”he said,“for all of

my meals!”

Now, check your dialogue in your

story...with a coloured pen,

edit your quotation marks

carefully!

Dialogue!

Formatting Dialogue: New Speaker, New Line

• Each time a new speaker speaks place the line of dialogue on a new line. • This line should also be indented

(assuming you are indenting new paragraphs).

Every time someone new speaks in your story, you must GO TO THE NEXT LINE and INDENT!

ExampleWilma and Pebbles were busy baking the

cake for Fred’s birthday surprise party.“Look, it’s almost ready to take the cake

out of the oven,” said Wilma.“Mom, may I put the icing on daddy’s

cake?” asked Pebbles.“Sure,” replied Wilma, “when it’s ready.”

Now, go to your story and make sure that every time someone new speaks,

that the dialogue is

indented and formatted correctly.