This document discusses dialogue and its proper use in stories. Dialogue conveys actual conversations between characters and should advance the plot or reveal something about their personalities. Examples show dialogue moving the story forward, revealing a character trait, and creating atmosphere. Rules are provided for formatting dialogue, such as using quotation marks, capitalization, and proper punctuation inside and outside the quotes depending on the placement of the attribution tag.
2. Many stories include the actual conversation
between characters.
This is dialogue.
Dialogue can add a lot to a story and it
should always have a purpose.
3. Example:
"Let's go to the store," said Jason. "Frank
and Mark said they'd meet us there."
This is an example of dialogue that is moving
the plot along because now the characters are
going to the store.
4. Example:
"You need to apologize," said mother.
"No!" screamed Jane. "I will never say I'm sorry and
you can't make me!“
This is an example of dialogue that reveals
something about the character. We see that
she is stubborn and has a bad temper.
5. Example (from Underground to Canada):
"Julilly," Liza mumbled, "I think my own bones has come
loose, and is rattlin' around in this sack."...
"Freedom ain't easy, Massa Ross." Liza sounded again
like the sullen, angry girl of the long-ago slave cabin on
the Riley plantation. "Even you got put in jail, and your
face don't look so well.“
Liza's words help create the feeling of the
south, where she's from. Her speech pattern
and choice of words adds to the realism.
6. Example:
"What do you want to do today?" asked Fran.
"I don't know. What do you want to do?" replied Janet.
"I don't know either," said Fran.
"Ok," said Janet.
This is an example of pointless dialogue.
There is really no purpose to it and it makes
the piece boring.
7. The rules for how to write dialogue can be
confusing.
Examine the examples on the following slides
to clarify your understanding.
8. Example:
"Hurry up!" yelled Craig. <--Craig's exact
words are "Hurry up!“
Craig told her to hurry up. <--These are not
the exact words so no quotation marks.
9. Example:
◦ "We're going to be late, " complained Colleen. "I hate
being late. Everyone stares at you when you walk in."
Colleen glared at her brother as he put on his shoes.
◦ "You're such a worrier!" said Mark as he rolled his eyes.
◦ "Come on! Let's go!" urged Colleen.
Notice that Colleen and Mark don't speak in the
same paragraph.
10. Example:
"Mr. Jones," Amy pleaded, "I forgot my permission
slip for the field trip!"
"I'm sorry then. You can't go without parental
consent."
Not necessary each time you change speakers, but
you do need to distinguish who is speaking
periodically to avoid confusion.
Not necessary to write „said Mr Jones‟ because it's
obvious from the preceding paragraph that Amy is
talking to him.
11. The speech tag is the part of the sentence
where you identify who the speaker is and
how he/she said it (ex: he said).
Proper punctuation and capitals depend on
where the speech tag is.
She He
asked shouted
12. Use a comma after the speech tag, EXCEPT if
it's at the end of the sentence.
If it's at the end of the sentence, use a period.
Look at the red punctuation below.
,
Steve said "Good morning ladies and gentlemen.”
,
"Ladies and gentlemen " said Steve, "good morning.”
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen, " said Steve .
13. The first word in the quotation mark should be
capitalized, EXCEPT if the quoted sentence has been
split in half.
Steve said, "Good morning ladies and gentlemen.“
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen," said Steve.
"Ladies and gentlemen," said Steve, " good morning."
Notice that the 'g' in good morning is not capitalized
because the quote has been broken in half by the
speech tag.
14. Punctuation should go on the inside of the
quotation mark.
!
Steve said, "Good morning ladies and gentlemen ”
,
" Good morning ladies and gentlemen " said Steve
,
"Ladies and gentlemen " said Steve, "good morning ".
Notice all the punctuation is inside quotation
marks. The same would apply to question marks
too.
15. No periods at the end of a quote unless that
quote comes at the end of a sentence.
Exclamation marks, question marks and commas
are ok, but not periods.
Ladies and gentlemen," said Steve, "good morning ".
,
"Good morning " said Steve.
Notice how you don't
!
"Good morning " said Steve. use a period in any of
these examples?
?
"How are you " asked Steve.
16. Dialogue can add a lot to your
writing if you use it with
purpose!
