Dialogue is an important part of most narratives, as it allows authors to convey character voice, advance the plot, and immerse readers in the story. However, formatting dialogue correctly with punctuation can be tricky for some writers. Punctuating dialogue involves setting it off from the rest of the text with quotation marks and inserting commas, periods, question marks, and exclamation points where needed. This article will provide an overview of the punctuation rules for formatting dialogue in narratives. It will cover:
- Using quotation marks to set off dialogue
- Where to place commas, periods, question marks, and exclamation points
- Formatting for interrupted dialogue
- Punctuating dialogue tags and attributions
- Handling internal dialogue
- Formatting dialogue for plays and screenplays
Properly punctuating dialogue may seem complicated at first, but these rules will help you learn when and where to place punctuation to keep your story dialogue clear for readers.
Using Quotation Marks to Set Off Dialogue
The most basic rule of formatting dialogue is to enclose all spoken words between two quotation marks. Here is an example:
“Where are you going today?” Sam asked.
The quotation marks allow readers to differentiate the dialogue (“Where are you going today?”) from the dialogue tag that identifies the speaker (Sam asked).
All dialogue should begin with an opening quotation mark. When a speaker finishes a speech, end the dialogue with a closing quotation mark. New paragraphs of dialogue should also open with quotation marks to demonstrate a new speaker is talking.
Rules for Using Quotation Marks
Here are some key rules to remember about quotation marks:
- Open quotes go before the first word spoken: “Hello there,” she said nervously.
- Close quotes go after the last word spoken: “I’m running late today!” he yelled.
- Every new paragraph of dialogue gets opening quotes: “I need to tell you something important. Something that can’t wait,” he said. He took a deep breath. “I wanted to let you know that I love you.”
- Quotes go around spoken words only, not actions: “Come over here,” she shouted waving her arms in the air.
Following these basic rules will ensure you properly set off all dialogue in your narrative.
Placing Commas, Periods, Question Marks, and Exclamation Points
Once you have set off the spoken words with quotation marks, you need to insert punctuation within the quotes and dialogue tags. Here are guidelines on placing commas, periods, question marks, and exclamation points when punctuating dialogue:
Commas
- A comma goes inside the quotation marks if the overall sentence continues after the dialogue: “I don’t know where I’m going,” she said, “but I need to get away.”
- A comma goes outside the quotation marks if the dialogue tag comes after a complete sentence: “I’m leaving tonight,” she said, as she started to cry.
Periods
- A period always goes inside the quotation marks: “I’m afraid I have bad news.”
Question Marks
- A question mark goes inside quotes when the dialogue itself is a question: “What time does the train arrive?” he asked the ticket agent.
- A question mark goes outside quotes when the overall sentence contains a question: Did you hear her say, “I’ll meet you there”?
Exclamation Points
- An exclamation point goes inside quotes when the dialogue is exclamatory: “Look out!” he suddenly yelled.
- An exclamation point goes outside quotes when the overall sentence is exclamatory: He screamed “No!” when he looked inside.
Following these punctuation guidelines will help you determine whether punctuation belongs inside or outside the quotation marks for dialogue.
Formatting Interrupted Dialogue
Sometimes dialogue gets interrupted by a speaker action or explanation. This is called interrupted dialogue. There are specific rules for punctuating interrupted dialogue:
- Insert the interrupting text inside em dashes: “I wanted to tell you—before it’s too late—that I’m sorry.”
- The dialogue continues after the interruption with no new quotes: “I wasn’t thinking clearly”—she sighed—”when I said those hurtful things.”
- An interrupting question ends with a question mark inside quotes: “Do you think you could ever”—she hesitated—”forgive me?”
Proper formatting for interrupted dialogue will ensure readers don’t get confused over who is speaking. The em dashes or punctuation clues surrounding the interruption keeps the dialogue clear.
Punctuating Dialogue Tags and Attributions
Dialogue tags identify the speaker. These may include:
- “Hello,” she said.
- “I’m home,” he shouted.
- “Goodbye,” they whispered.
Here are some key punctuation rules for dialogue tags:
- Comma between dialogue and tag if tag comes first: Mary said, “I’m ready to go.”
- Period between tag and dialogue if tag follows a statement: “I don’t care anymore.” Liz sighed.
- Question mark inside quotes if tag follows a question: “What time is it?” Jeff asked.
- Exclamation point inside quotes if tag follows an exclamation: “Stop it!” Lisa yelled.
Attributions also identify the speaker but are placed in the middle of the quote:
- “I hate to be the one to tell you this,” said Tom nervously, “but you didn’t get the job.”
Punctuate attributions like this:
- Comma between dialogue and attribution if it comes first.
- Comma after attribution when it falls in the middle.
- Period between attribution and dialogue if it follows a statement.
Proper punctuation for dialogue tags and attributions will lend clarity in complex dialogue exchanges.
Formatting Internal Dialogue
Internal dialogue refers to a character’s thoughts represented as dialogue. To format this:
- Use italics for inner thoughts: This is a bad idea, she thought.
- Use single quotes if needed: ‘Should I tell him the truth?’ she wondered.
- Dialogue tags explain who is thinking: I’m in so much trouble, Mike realized.
Formatting internal dialogue correctly will help distinguish between spoken exchanges and private thoughts.
Punctuating Dialogue in Plays and Screenplays
Plays and screenplays have some different rules for punctuating dialogue:
- Speaker names are written in capital letters: SAM: “Where have you been?”
- Dialogue is aligned to speaker names:
- Parenthetical stage directions can follow names: SAM: (angrily) “I’m tired of waiting!”
Additionally, plays use colons and a lack of quotation marks to set off dialogue:
SAM: Where are my keys? I’m going to be late!
Because scripts are meant for performance, punctuation rules focus on easy reading for actors. Formatting takes priority over traditional punctuation.
Conclusion
Punctuating dialogue in narratives provides clarity for readers through proper formatting. The main rules to remember are:
- Enclose spoken words in quotation marks
- Place commas and periods inside quotes
- Use question marks and exclamation points according to sentence needs
- Interrupt dialogue with em dashes
- Punctuate tags and attributions appropriately
- Set off internal thoughts with italics
- Use script format for plays and screenplays
While it takes practice to correctly punctuate all narrative dialogue, following these guidelines will help you master the rules. Proper punctuation makes spoken exchanges easy to follow so readers stay immersed in the story. With these tips, you can confidently punctuate dialogue for clarity and flow.