“It always seems impossible until it's done.”
“It always seems impossible until it's done.”
― Nelson Mandela
― Nelson Mandela
Here are some examples of embedding dialogue into a story or text.
Here are some examples of embedding dialogue into a story or text.
Make note of the use of commas and remember the quotation marks always go around punctuation (periods, question marks, exclamation marks). If you are paraphrasing someone’s words, then there is no need to use quotation marks (see the last example*).
Make note of the use of commas and remember the quotation marks always go around punctuation (periods, question marks, exclamation marks). If you are paraphrasing someone’s words, then there is no need to use quotation marks (see the last example*).
If you are looking for instructions on how to embed an academic quote from an author then click here to learn about in-text citations.
If you are looking for instructions on how to embed an academic quote from an author then click here to learn about in-text citations.
Example 1:
Example 1:
“I just discovered a giant beehive in the barn,” my cousin told me.
“I just discovered a giant beehive in the barn,” my cousin told me.
(Note the use of comma—it is inside the “ ”)
(Note the use of comma—it is inside the “ ”)
Example 2:
Example 2:
My cousin told me, “I just discovered a giant beehive in the barn.”
My cousin told me, “I just discovered a giant beehive in the barn.”
(Note the placement of the comma and how the period is at the end, inside the “ ”)
(Note the placement of the comma and how the period is at the end, inside the “ ”)
Example 3:
Example 3:
My cousin exclaimed excitedly, “Check out this giant beehive I just found in the barn!”
My cousin exclaimed excitedly, “Check out this giant beehive I just found in the barn!”
(This example has an exclamation mark!)
(This example has an exclamation mark!)
Example 4:
Example 4:
My cousin asked me, “Hey, do you want to check out the giant beehive in the barn?”
My cousin asked me, “Hey, do you want to check out the giant beehive in the barn?”
or
or
“Hey, do you want to check out the giant beehive in the barn?” my cousin asked me.
“Hey, do you want to check out the giant beehive in the barn?” my cousin asked me.
(These examples show a question. Note in the second question there is no comma as the question mark replaces it.)
(These examples show a question. Note in the second question there is no comma as the question mark replaces it.)
Example 5:
Example 5:
“Hey, do you want to check out the giant beehive in the barn?” my cousin asked me. “It’s over a foot tall!”
“Hey, do you want to check out the giant beehive in the barn?” my cousin asked me. “It’s over a foot tall!”
(This example splits the cousin’s words into two sections.)
(This example splits the cousin’s words into two sections.)
Example 6:
Example 6:
My cousin told me she discovered "a giant beehive in the barn" and asked me to come see it.
My cousin told me she discovered "a giant beehive in the barn" and asked me to come see it.
(This example includes a partial quote and does not need any punctuation.)
(This example includes a partial quote and does not need any punctuation.)
Example 7:
Example 7:
"Hey," my cousin asked, "do you want to check out the giant beehive in the barn?"
"Hey," my cousin asked, "do you want to check out the giant beehive in the barn?"
(This example has the quote split into two sections .)
(This example has the quote split into two sections .)
*Example 8:
*Example 8:
My cousin told me she discovered a giant beehive in her barn and asked me to come see it.
My cousin told me she discovered a giant beehive in her barn and asked me to come see it.
(There is no need to use quotation marks here because the writer is not inserting a direct quote but has paraphrased the cousin’s words.)
(There is no need to use quotation marks here because the writer is not inserting a direct quote but has paraphrased the cousin’s words.)