Quotation Marks and Dialogue

Start with a map

The Dialogue mind map is a starting point for seeing how quotation marks frame a character's exact words. It also covers using a comma before quotation marks and placing a period inside them. Look over these points before moving on to a quiz.

For a broader view, the punctuation mind map includes direct quotations and divided quotations alongside other uses of commas. Compare its quotation sections with Dialogue to see how the resources present the material.

Practice with quizzes

The quizzes on punctuating dialogue ask about starting a new line when a different character speaks and putting punctuation inside quotation marks. Start with one of these if you want to focus on the layout and punctuation of dialogue.

Developing Dialogue asks where quotation marks belong and which sentences are punctuated correctly. The ELA quiz also asks you to add quotation marks to sentences. After trying a quiz, return to Dialogue and check the points that relate to the questions you found difficult.

Use the other formats

The flashcard deck covers dialogue and indirect quotation and includes a question about choosing a sentence that uses quotation marks. The slides introduce quotation marks as marks used around words attributed to another person. Use these resources to look at quotations as well as conversations between characters.

Within the unit

Quotation Marks and Dialogue is a section of Punctuation and Capitalization in English language. The resources here bring together quotation marks, dialogue and related punctuation within that unit. The Language-Punctuation quiz also asks for a sentence using a direct quotation and explanatory words, giving you a chance to work with quotations in a wider punctuation activity.

Choose a resource that suits your starting point and work through it at your own pace.