Punctuating Quotations

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Punctuating Quotations
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Direct Quotations (writing a speakers exact words)

• Use quotation marks at the beginning and end of a
  direct quotation
• Ex I hate the Red Sox, said Martin.
• Use commas to set off explanatory word
• Ex I hate the Red Sox, stated Martin.
• Place !, ?, ., , inside the closing quotation
  marks, except when the quoted words are part of a
  question
• Ex Did Martin say he hated the Red Sox?

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Indirect Quotations (a restatement, in different
words, of what someone said)

• Do not use quotation marks for indirect quotes
• Direct Martin said, I love the Yankees!
• Indirect Martin said he was a Yankee fan.

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Divided Quotations (separated into two parts with
explanatory words in between)

• Use quotation marks to enclose both parts of a
  divided quotation
• Use commas to set off explanatory words
• Ex Having won 26 championships said Martin the
  Yankees are the best team in history
• Do not capitalize the first word of the second
  part unless it begins a new sentence

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Quotation Marks in Dialogue (conversation between
two or more speakers)

• In dialogue, a new paragraph and a new set of
  quotation marks signal a change in speakers
• He said, I can chop wood today.
• I said, But I have a boy coming from the
  orphanage.
• I am the boy.