Punctuation Rules for Dialogue
By kristen overman
editor and writing teacher.
Sometimes writers feel overwhelmed with remembering grammar and punctuation rules for dialogue. Well, look no further. We have you covered with the basics here.
Some Punctuation Rules for Dialogue
1. Each speaker's dialogue should be on a separate line, along with any narration or action that “belongs” to that speaker.
2. After someone speaks, use a period, comma, question mark, or exclamation mark within the quotation marks.
3. Use an ellipsis to indicate that the speaker is trailing off.
4. Use quotation marks to denote the start and end of dialogue.
5. Use an em-dash (—) to indicate an interruption in the dialogue.
6. Use single quotes within double quotes (if you’re writing according to US English formatting).
7. To continue dialogue for more than one paragraph, omit the end quotation marks and use opening quotes at the beginning of the new paragraph. Do not use end quotes until the instance of dialogue is over.
Writing dialogue can be a daunting task for any writer. It is important to understand the punctuation rules for dialogue writing when crafting believable dialogue in order to create an engaging story.
If you want a deeper dive with some dialogue examples, check out our dialogue formatting resource here, available to view or download.
When writing dialogue, it is important to remember to open and close speech marks to set dialogue apart from surrounding narration. Dialogue should also be used to give insights into characters and their motivations. To ensure that conversation is entertaining and clearly understood, writers should review grammar and punctuation rules for dialogue.
Going Beyond Punctuation Rules for Dialogue
In addition to punctuation, writers should consider the tone and mood of the conversation. To make dialogue more interesting, writers should cut out day-to-day conversations that are extraneous or irrelevant. Small talk does not belong in dialogue.
Writers should also ask themselves questions about their dialogue, such as what they want it to tell readers about their characters’ personalities and how it will tell readers about their characters’ present situation. You could go too far in the direction of relying on dialogue tags, though, but that’s another article.
Finally, writers should consider the context of the conversation. They should think about what is going on immediately in the scene, as well as the roots of the conversation in prior actions and scenes. Where does this instance of dialogue belong in the grand scheme of the story?
This will help writers craft conversations that are purposeful and entertaining. All of the other punctuation rules for dialogue can be taught, and are in the service of writing a great story.
Punctuation Rules for Dialogue in Depth
The most basic of punctuation rules for dialogue is to use quotation marks to show when an instance of speech begins and ends. This dialogue portion is followed by common punctuation marks such as commas, periods, question marks and exclamation points within the quotation marks.
Additionally, if the dialogue tag or action is before the dialogue text, then the punctuation is reversed. In other words, follow the dialogue tag or action with a comma, before the dialogue text. Then end the dialogue text with a period inside the closing quotation mark.
elevate your writing
Are you ready to take your story to the next level? Kristen Overman is here to help you! She's an experienced editor with expertise in middle grade and young adult fiction, picture books, adult fiction, and memoir. She can work with you to develop your plot, characters, and narrative voice, as well as assist in the brainstorming and outlining stages of your project.
