Rule 1. Use quotation marks and commas to separate speech from the speech tags.
Example: -“Hello,” he said.
-He said hello.
-“I’m here,” she whispered.
Rule 2. Quotation marks (?) and exclamation points (!) go inside quotation marks and can take the place of commas.
Example: -“Who are you?” she asked.
-He shouted, “Damn!”
Rule 3. The period goes at the end of the sentence, not at the end of the speech.
Example: –“I hate him. I hate you,” he said.
-He said, “I hate him. I hate you.”
-“Where am I?” I asked.
-“No way!” she said. “It wasn’t me.”
-“No,” he said, “it wasn’t me.”
Rule 4. Use a variety of speech verbs and adverbs. A speech tag should
Only be used to it may be unclear who is speaking. If it is clear, a speech tag does NOT have to be used.
Example: –“…” he said loudly/quietly/fearfully/boldly/angrily
-Billy frowned. “I’m mad!”
Rule 5. In a dialogue, new speakers get a new line and an indent. It counts as a new paragraph.
Example: – “Where are you?” I asked.
She responded, “I’m over here.”
