Writing dialogue can be tricky, but punctuating it correctly is an essential skill for any writer. Misplaced commas or quotation marks can confuse your readers and distract them from your story. This kind of blog isn't directly related to worldbuilding, but I run into so much incorrect punctuation, I figured I'd it was worth creating a short breakdown.
So, let's go through some key rules
Rule #1: Quotation Marks Enclose Spoken Words
Whenever a character speaks, their words should be enclosed in quotation marks.
Correct: “I’ll meet you at the park,” she said.
Incorrect: I’ll meet you at the park, she said.
You can use double quotes or single, though double is more prevalent. If you have unusual speech, like telepath, consider using stars (*) or other unusual marks in lieu of quotation marks to set it apart from normal spoken speech. Don't use anything other than quotation marks for normal, comes out of something's mouth, speech.
Rule #2: Punctuation Inside Quotation Marks
In English, punctuation like commas, periods, and question marks almost always go inside the quotation marks.
!I cannot emphasize this one enough. PUNCTUATION INSIDE!
Correct: “Are you coming?” he asked. “Yes,” she replied.
Incorrect: “Are you coming”? he asked. “Yes”, she replied.
Remember, punctuation at the end of a dialogue sentence belongs inside the quotation marks in the correct format.
Rule #3: Dialogue Tags Use a Comma Before the Closing Quotation Mark
When a dialogue tag follows the spoken words (e.g., he said, she asked), use a comma before the closing quotation mark, not a period. Similarly, if your dialogue tag comes before the dialogue, use a comma after the tag to introduce the spoken words.
!This one is important too. If it would be a period, it's a COMMA!
Correct: “It’s a beautiful day,” he said. He said, “It’s a beautiful day.”
Incorrect: “It’s a beautiful day.” he said. He said “It’s a beautiful day.”
The comma in the correct examples keeps the flow of the sentence connected to the dialogue tag or smoothly introduces the spoken words.
Rule #4: Capitalize the First Word in Dialogue
The first word of a character’s spoken sentence should always be capitalized.
Correct: He said, “Let’s go to the beach.”
Incorrect: He said, “let’s go to the beach.”
Rule #5: New Paragraph for Each Speaker
Whenever a new character begins speaking, start a new paragraph. This keeps the conversation clear and easy to follow.
Correct: “Where were you?” she asked.
“I was at the library,” he replied.
Incorrect: “Where were you?” she asked. “I was at the library,” he replied.
The correct example separates each character’s dialogue into its own paragraph, while the incorrect example crams it into one.
Rule #6: Use Ellipses and Dashes for Interrupted or Trailing Off Speech
Ellipses (…) indicate trailing off, while dashes (—) show interruption.
Correct: “I just thought that maybe…” Her voice trailed off.
“Wait, I didn’t mean—”
Incorrect: “I just thought that maybe…”. Her voice trailed off.
“Wait, I didn’t mean—”.
No additional punctuation required.
Incorrect: “I just thought that maybe—” Her voice trailed off.
“Wait, I didn’t mean...” The door slammed open.
Ellipses for trailing off, em-dash for interruption.
Rule #7: Avoid Overusing Dialogue Tags
While this isn’t a strict punctuation rule, it’s a stylistic tip to keep in mind. Overusing tags like “said” or “asked” can make your dialogue feel clunky. Instead, use action beats or skip the tag entirely when the speaker’s identity is clear.
Correct: “That’s ridiculous.” She crossed her arms.
Incorrect: “That’s ridiculous,” she said, crossing her arms. “It doesn’t even make sense,” she said.
That being said, please DO NOT use weird dialogue tags like orated or declaimed or whatever. Said and asked "vanish" for the reader. They don't echo badly and the reader's eyes just sort of skip over them. Weird dialogue tags stick out like a sore thumb. So if you're using a weird dialogue tag, make sure you know why you're doing it and that you want it to really impact on the reader's attention.
Final thoughts on Punctuating Dialogue
Mastering dialogue punctuation might seem overwhelming at first, but with practice, it will become second nature. Remember, clean and correctly punctuated dialogue not only enhances readability but also immerses your audience in your story. So, keep these rules in mind and get back to crafting those compelling conversations!
Bonus Rule: Paragraph Breaks in Dialogue
Should you need to break a single speaker's dialogue into paragraphs, like an epic monologue, leave the closing quote off the paragraph, but include an opening quote on the new paragraph.
Correct: “This is my incredible evil monologue.
“With a paragraph break.”
Incorrect: “This is my incredible evil monologue.
With a paragraph break.”
Also Incorrect: “This is my incredible evil monologue.”
“With a paragraph break.”
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