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Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Correct punctuation for he said, she said?

Asked by: Tonya White

Should I put comma after she said?

Commas are used to set off the “he said/she said” clause. The comma always goes before the quotation marks. Incorrect: Henrietta asked “Do you want to go with me?” (Comma must set off “she said” clause.)

What punctuation to put after said?

comma

A few principles are at work here: To identify the speaker of a quotation before the quotation appears, put a comma after the speaking-related verb (said, replied, stated, wrote, etc.).

Is there a comma after he said?

Use a comma when a dialogue tag follows a quote

When dialogue is followed by a tag (for example, he said, asked, replied), then use a comma before the closing quote when you would normally use a period. If no tag follows the text, end the dialogue with punctuation to end the spoken sentence.

Do you put a period before he said?

Most often, commas and periods go within the quotation marks, but there are some forms of punctuation and examples that go outside of the quotation marks. Utilize these tips to make sure that the punctuation of your dialogue is correct.

How do you use she said in a sentence?

“What do you feel like fixing?” she said. “It’s not my turn to cook,” he said. “Yes, it is. It’s Friday. Friday is always your day,” she said.

Do you capitalize said after a quote?

Direct Quotations

Do not open a quotation and fail to close it at the end of the quoted material. Capitalize the first letter of a direct quote when the quoted material is a complete sentence. Mr. Johnson, who was working in his field that morning, said, “The alien spaceship appeared right before my own two eyes.”

Where do you put punctuation in a quote?

  1. Commas and colons can be used before the start of a quote. …
  2. Short punctuation (periods, commas) that is part of the sentence stays inside the quotation marks. …
  3. All punctuation marks that are part of the original quote stay inside the quotation marks.
  4. How do you introduce a quote with a colon?

    If you use a complete sentence to introduce a quotation, place a colon (not a comma) after the sentence and before the quote.

    Do I use a comma or a period after dialogue?

    Use common punctuation marks with quotations



    Here is how you would use each: Periods: If the dialogue tag comes before the quotation then you would use a period before the closing quotation mark. Commas: If the dialogue tag comes after the quotation then use a comma before the closing quotation mark.

    Do you put periods after quotes?

    Put commas and periods within quotation marks, except when a parenthetical reference follows. He said, “I may forget your name, but I never forget a face.” History is stained with blood spilled in the name of “civilization.”

    How do you quote dialogue examples?

    Quoting Only Dialogue

    If you quote only the speech, use double quotation marks around it: Early in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Miss Baker tells Nick Carraway that he must be familiar with someone she knows from West Egg: “You must know Gatsby” (11).

    How do you quote correctly?

    If you put the quote first and then tell who said it, use a comma at the end of the sentence, and then the second quotation mark.
    Proper Punctuation – Quotes



    1. “Good morning,” I said as I came down the stairs.
    2. “Good morning,” said my mother.
    3. “Is it nice outside?” I asked.
    4. “It’s a beautiful day,” she answered with a smile.

    How do you quote someone’s words?

    Use quotation marks only when quoting someone’s exact words, either spoken or written. This is called a direct quotation. “I prefer my cherries chocolate covered,” joked Alyssa. Jackie kept repeating, “Good dog, good dog!”

    What are some examples of dialogue?

    Here are some examples of writing questions in dialogue:

    • “Will you ever stop being a child?” she asked.
    • “What about that man over there?” he whispered, pointing in a old gentleman’s direction. “Doesn’t he look odd too?”
    • “What’s the big deal, anyway?” she huffed.

    What can I say instead of Said in dialogue?

    Here are dialogue words you can use instead of ‘said’, categorised by the kind of emotion or scenario they convey:



    • Anger: Shouted, bellowed, yelled, snapped, cautioned, rebuked.
    • Affection: Consoled, comforted, reassured, admired, soothed.
    • Excitement: …
    • Fear: …
    • Determination: …
    • Happiness: …
    • Sadness: …
    • Conflict:

    What is dialogue writing explain it with proper example?

    Dialogue is the exchange of spoken words between two or more characters in a book, play, or other written work. In prose writing, lines of dialogue are typically identified by the use of quotation marks and a dialogue tag, such as “she said.” In plays, lines of dialogue are preceded by the name of the person speaking.

    How do you write strong dialogue?

    Top Tips for Better Dialogue

    1. Keep it brief. Dialogue shouldn’t go over for pages and pages. …
    2. Avoid small talk. Oh, this one is music to my introvert ears. …
    3. Don’t info dump. …
    4. Give your characters a unique way of speaking. …
    5. Be consistent. …
    6. Create suspense. …
    7. Honor the relationship. …
    8. Show, don’t tell.

    How do you write emotional dialogue?

    How To Write Dialogue in 7 Simple Steps:

    1. Keep it tight and avoid unnecessary words.
    2. Hitting beats and driving momentum.
    3. Keep it oblique, where characters never quite answer each other directly.
    4. Reveal character dynamics and emotion.
    5. Keep your dialogue tags simple.
    6. Get the punctuation right.
    7. Be careful with accents.



    How do you spice up dialogue?

    Here are some strategies for improving the dialogue in your own work:

    1. Mimic the voices of people in your own life. …
    2. Mix dialogue with narration. …
    3. Give your main character a secret. …
    4. Use a layperson character to clarify technical language. …
    5. Use authentic shorthand. …
    6. Look to great examples of dialogue for inspiration.