Rules for Formatting and Punctuating
Dialogue
Rule #1
Use quotation marks to begin
and end a direct quotation.
Separate the quotation from
the rest of the sentence by
commas. Do not use
quotation marks to set off an
indirect quotation.
Which of these sentences is an indirect quotation
and which is a direct quotation? How do you
know?
A. The Hamburglar said, “I’ve come to steal
your hamburger.”
B. The Hamburglar said that he had come to
steal my hamburger.
Answer:
 Sentence A is a direct quotation because
it states the Hamburglar’s exact words.
 Sentence B is an indirect quotation
because it states what the Hamburglar said
but not in his own words.
Rule #2
 The speaker’s words are set off from
the rest of the sentence with
quotation marks, and the first word
of the quotation is capitalized.
When the end of the quotation is
also the end of the sentence, the
period falls inside the quotation
marks.
Which is the correct way to capitalize
and punctuate this quotation?
A. Luchadora Lilly told Police Chief Acosta,
“don’t worry. I’ll help you get the thugs off
the streets of Los Angeles.”
B. Luchadora Lilly told Police Chief Acosta,
“Don’t worry. I’ll help you get the thugs off
the streets of Los Angeles.”
C. Luchadora Lilly told Police Chief Acosta
“,Don’t worry. I’ll help you get the thugs
off the streets of Los Angeles”.
Answer: B
Rule #3
Both parts of a divided
quotation are enclosed in
quotation marks. The first
word of the second part is
not capitalized unless it
begins a new sentence.
Which is the correct way to capitalize
and punctuate this quotation?
A. “Luchadora Lilly”, answered the Chief “don’t
worry about the thugs.You just help the Pirates
with their homework”.
B. “Luchadora Lilly,” answered the Chief, “Don’t
worry about the thugs. Just help the Pirates with
their homework.”
C. “Luchadora Lilly,” answered the Chief, “don’t
worry about the thugs. Just help the Pirates with
their homework.”
Answer: C
Rule #4
If there is question mark or an
exclamation point where one
of the separating commas
should be, take out the comma
and put in the question mark
or exclamation point in its
place.
Which is the correct way to capitalize
and punctuate this quotation?
A. “Is Ms. Acosta a strict teacher?”
asked the new student.
B. The new student asked if, “Ms.
Acosta is a strict teacher?”
C. “Is Ms. Acosta a strict teacher,”
asked the new student.
Answer: A
Rule #5
When you write dialogue,
begin a new paragraph
whenever the speaker
changes. Begin a new
paragraph by hitting
Enter and then Tab.
Which is the correct way to capitalize,
punctuate and format this dialogue?
A.
“Did you hear what Pedro told Ms. A?” “No, I just heard he
told her off because she took away his iPod.” “Well, he
called her a word that is so inappropriate I can’t even repeat
it!”
B.
“Did you hear what Pedro told Ms. A?”
“No, I just heard he told her off because she took away his
iPod.”
“Well, he called her a word that is so inappropriate I can’t
even repeat it.”
Answer: B
Rule #6

If you need to have one
character directly quoting
another character, then use
double quotes for your main
dialogue and single quotes for
the quote-within-a- quote.
Which is the correct way to capitalize and
punctuate this quotation?
A. Ms. Lilly told Ms. A, “Pedro asked, “Do you
think Ms. A will accept my apology for
disrespecting her?””
B. Ms. Lilly told Ms. A, “Pedro asked ‘Do you think
Ms. A will accept my apology for disrespecting
her?’”
C. Ms. Lilly told Ms. A, “Pedro asked, ‘Do you
think Ms. A will accept my apology for
disrespecting her?’”
Answer: C