Quick Guide: How to Format Punctuation in Dialogue

Here’s a crib sheet for dialogue, including quotes, commas, periods, and other punctuation types. I created this because not long ago, I first noticed writers avoiding dialogue tags (he said, she said). At first, I figured people were trying to be minimalist and channeling their inner Cormac McCarthy. But I’ve since realized—and students have confirmed my suspicion—that many people are terrified of messing up their dialogue punctuation. They’re worried they’ll look foolish because they’re uncomfortable with the ornate punctuation rules.

I understand—I didn’t know the rules when I graduated from college. Most people don’t—even those starting MFA programs. As a general rule, few of us have to write lots and lots of dialogue, so all the arcane rules are never learned or internalized. Here are the punctuation rules I give to clients. Remember, before your book is published, it will be professionally copyedited. But it’s good to have the basics down, too.

Fiction and Nonfiction Dialogue Punctuation: 

• Always put punctuation marks inside the quotation, despite what you see in British books. The marks go right before the close quote mark. Exception: non-dialogue quotation…like the name of a shop, if it’s in quotations for some reason, the punctuation would go outside the quote.

  • UK Version: “That’s weird”, he said.

  • US Version: “That’s weird,” he said.

  • Non-dialogue quote: He went to “Mrs. Humphrey’s Shoppe”, but didn’t stay long.

• A sentence within quotes usually begins with a capital letter, even if the most recent punctuation was a comma…which seems weird, but so it goes.

  • Example: He said, “That’s weird.”

• Put the comma before the closing quotation mark if the dialogue tag (she said) comes after the quotation.

  • Example: “You’ll never win a race with that horse,” he said. 

• Use a period before the closing quotation mark if the dialogue tag comes before the quotation. Add a comma after the “said.”

  • Example: He said, “You’ll never win a race with that horse.” 

• If the speaker is asking a question, add a question mark. Whether the dialogue tag is before or after the question mark…and notice that even though there’s a question mark, which ostensibly ends the sentence, the next word starts with a lower-case letter.

  • Example: “You’ll never win a race with that horse?” he asked.

• When the speaker is shouting, excited or surprised, use an exclamation point.

  • Example: “You’ll never win a race with that horse!” he said.

Where Does Punctuation Go in Dialogue?

Always put punctuation marks inside the quotation before the quote mark’s close if you’re writing for a U.S.-based audience. 

Incorrect Example: “You’ll never win a race with that leg”, he said to his horse. 

As you can see here, the comma was placed after the quote mark. It always goes inside. Why? I don’t know. The British do it the other way ‘round. 

How do Commas and Quotations Work?

Commas and periods are most frequently used. Use a comma before the closing quotation mark if the dialogue tag comes after the quotation.

Correct Example: “You’ll never win a race with that leg,” he said to his horse. 

You can also continue the sentence a bit. 

Correct Example: “You’ll never win a race with that leg,” he said, “as it’s falling off.”

Periods and Quotation Marks

Use a period before the closing quotation mark if the dialogue tag comes before the quotation. 

Correct Example: He said to his horse, “You’ll never win a race with that leg.” 

I often see writers try to put a period in the wrong spot, after the quote. Which, of course, leads to a capitalization error. Here are two dialogue examples.

Incorrect Example: “You’ll never win a race with that leg.” He said to his horse.  

Correct Example: “You’ll never win a race with that leg,” he said to his horse. 

Question Mark and Quotation Rules

If the dialogue’s speaker asks a question, add a question mark, whether the dialogue tag is before or after the question mark. 

Correct Example: “Will you ever win a race with that leg?” he asked. 

That’s right, there’s no comma. It would look odd. 

Incorrect Example: “Will you ever win a race with that leg?,” he asked.

Exclamation Points and Quotations 

When the speaker is shouting, excited or surprised, use an exclamation point, but do so judiciously. 

Example: “You’ll never win a race with that leg!” he shouted. 

Takeaway

It’s fine if you don’t understand all of dialogue’s punctuation rules right away—it gets easier with practice. In the meantime, a developmental editor or writing coach can help you improve your technical and craft skills. Writing dialogue is a skill that becomes much easier with practice.