How to use punctuation in direct speech: here is the guide that illustrates the rules for inserting it well in dialogues and monologues, with some examples.
One of the most used narrative techniques is based on the famous Anglo-Saxon expression ” show, don’t tell”. Through dialogue , the writer can make the action vivid, giving shape to the words of the characters.
In particular, direct speech is the preferred tool for reporting an oral conversation word for word. And it is precisely thanks to these sentences uttered by the protagonists that remain impressed in the memory of the readers. When the narrator inserts direct speech into the text, he gives body to the voices of the characters, which become the most memorable quotes.
On the contrary, in indirect speech , the author reports the character’s words in an indirect form, modifying the structure of the sentence.
This guide aims to explain how to use punctuation correctly in direct and indirect speech , illustrating how to insert it appropriately in the text. Suggestions will also be provided on how to adapt the sentence in case you need to insert parentheses that enrich the action and how to manage punctuation in monologues .
Verbs in direct speech
Direct speech is usually introduced by declarative verbs (such as: say, affirm, declare, ask , etc.), followed, in order, by a colon , a space , and a diacritical mark chosen from among: high quotation marks (“…”), quotation marks («…»), or em dashes ( –…–). Direct speech sentences are enclosed within these diacritical marks.
It must be said that, between high and low quotation marks, low quotation marks (corporals) are generally preferred, since the latter are used to indicate direct speech, leaving the high quotation marks free to indicate a citation within the speech itself.
Using Quotation Marks in a Newspaper Article
In addition to the literary genre , another context in which the use of quotation marks related to direct speech occurs is that of the newspaper article . In this context, the issue concerns both the interview and the newspaper article that includes direct quotations.
In the case of interviews, quotation marks are generally used to clearly separate questions and answers, with the use of classic corporals («…»), the most common diacritical marks in this context.
However, the issue takes on greater relevance and delicate importance when the author reports phrases attributed to others. In these cases, as is known, the use of quotation marks is not only a graphic choice, but a decision of great journalistic weight. Quotation marks, in fact, become the point of separation between confirmation and denial , between fiery declarations and embarrassed silences .
Careful use of quotation marks can influence the perception of a story, making quotation marks a crucial element in journalism.
Quotation marks in direct speech
Let’s start with the dialogues indicated by the high quotation marks (the low quotation marks follow the same rules). If you write a sentence made up exclusively of direct speech , the punctuation goes inside the dialogue, as in the example:
” I’m going and I’ll be back .”
If the dialogue is introduced by a declarative verb , the full stop is not inserted within the direct speech. For example:
He told me: “I’m going and I’ll come back . “
However, the situation changes when direct speech ends with a question mark , an exclamation mark , or an ellipsis . In these cases, the period of the declarative sentence is omitted , as in the following example:
He said to me: “I go and I come back? “
Within more complex sentences, the comma should be inserted when there is no punctuation mark before the quotation marks:
He said to me, “I’m going and I’ll come back,” and flew away.
The comma disappears if there is already a punctuation mark, such as a question mark or exclamation point, in the statement:
He said to me, “I’m going and I’ll come back?” and flew away.
The use of the parenthesis in direct speech
Things get a little more complicated when the dialogue is divided by a parenthesis, as in the example:
“I’m going out,” he said, “in search of bread.”
In this case, the full stop within the dialogue should be placed within the quotation marks, while the commas in the parenthesis remain outside the direct speech.
If, however, the comma refers to dialogue , then it should be placed inside the quotation marks, as in the following example:
“I’m going out,” he said, “in search of bread.”
The comma indicates a pause made by the character while speaking. This principle also applies to other punctuation marks, such as the question mark . For example:
- “Am I going out?” he said, “in search of bread?”
- “I’m going out?” he said, “in search of bread.”
- “I’m going out?” he said, “in search of bread…”
When quotation marks are not enough
The rules change with the em dash , which should always be placed at the beginning of each statement. For example:
– I’m going and coming back .
The dialogue ends with another hyphen only if the text continues or in the case of an aside . And the comma, in this case, must be inserted within the direct speech. For example:
– I’m going and coming back, – he said .
If the text continues after the dialogue , then the period should be inserted after the concluding hyphen:
“I’m going out,” he said, “in search of bread.” He got on his bike and took off .
The use of punctuation in the monologue
In the case of long monologues , that is, when you open quotation marks that will remain open for several lines, you could use a very common narrative technique: break up the monologue by going to a new line without closing the quotation marks, and reopening them at the beginning of the next paragraph.
Final quotation marks should be used only once, at the end of the monologue.
Alternatively, you can go to a new line without reopening the quotation marks, but simply by indenting at the beginning of the new paragraph. The quotation marks will close only when the monologue is finished.
