Using Quotation Marks

1. When a character is talking to someone else or talking aloud to herself, her words should be in quotation marks ("") - double quotes..
   Example:
   • Correct: Mary said, "Tammy, do you want to go to the movies?"
   • Correct: "Darn," Gloria whispered when she realized she had taken a wrong turn.
   • Incorrect: Mary said, 'Tammy do you want to go to the movies?'
   
   When a character is directly repeating what someone else has said, use single quotes for differentiation purposes inside the double quotes.
   Example:
   • Correct: Mary said, "I heard the entire conversation. Jill said, 'I'll pay you back when I get my tax refund.'"
   
   
2. When a character is speaking more than one line, put quotation marks at the first word of the first sentence and at the last word of the last sentence.
   Example:
   • Incorrect: Rachel sighed. "I'm tired of fighting, Tisha." "Why don't we just end the date here?" "I'll call you later."
     
   • Correct: Rachel sighed. "I'm tired of fighting, Tisha. Why don't we just end the date here? I'll call you later."
   
   
3. To indicate that a person is thinking (internal dialogue), you can put the thought in italics.
   Example:
   • If I hear that song one more time, I'll scream, Clara thought.
   
   
4. During a conversation, start a new paragraph whenever the speaker changes.
   • Incorrect:
     Harriet walked up to the cutie at the bar. "What's a sistah got to do to get your phone number?" "I don't just give the digits up. You got to work for it." Harriet frowned. "Please, I work 9 to 5, I'm not going to sweat over a number." "Well, if you don't think I'm worth it, you definitely aren't worthy of me. Play somewhere else, playa."
     
     
   • Correct:
     _____Harriet walked up to the cutie at the bar. "What's a sistah got to do to get your phone number?"
     _____"I don't just give the digits up. You got to work for it."
     _____Harriet frowned. "Please, I work 9 to 5, I'm not going to sweat over a number."
     _____"Well, if you don't think I'm worth it, you definitely aren't worthy of me. Play somewhere else, playa."

Using Commas & Periods with Quotation Marks
Using commas and periods with quotation marks together can be tricky.

1. Commas are used to separate "he said/she said" from the actual words spoken. Here is a good rule: the comma always goes BEFORE the quotation mark closest to the "said" clause:
   Example:
   • Jane said, "I love reading Kuma."
     *note there is a space between the comma and the quotation mark
   • "I love reading Kuma," Jane said.
     *note in this case, there is no space between the comma and the quotation mark. The space is between the quotation mark and Jane
   
   
Also note that a period is only used inside of quotes if the quote is after the said clause.
Examples:
• Incorrect: "I prefer the Sopranos.," Lisa said.
• Correct: "I prefer the Sopranos," Lisa said.
  or
  Correct: Lisa said, "I prefer the Sopranos."


2. Even though I called it the said clause, the word said might not be in it at all. The comma and period rules still apply though.
   Example:
   • Jane replied, "I love reading Kuma."
   • "I will only read horror novels," Nancy insisted.

Using Question Marks & Exclamation Points with Quotation Marks

1. Unlike the period, question marks and exclamation points are always placed inside of the quotation marks. If the quote before the said clause ends with a ? or !, a comma is NOT used to separate them.
   Example:
   • Incorrect: "Who is your favorite author?," she asked.
   • Correct: "Who is your favorite author?" she asked.
     *note the s in "she" is not capitalized.
   • Correct: She asked, "Who is your favorite author?"
     
   • Incorrect: "Yes!," She shouted in ecstasy.
   • Correct: "Yes!" she shouted in ecstasy.
   • Correct: Overcome by ecstasy, she shouted, "Yes!"

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