English II (on-level): Dialogue Rules

Please write two sample lines of dialogue and bring them to class tomorrow (10/19). Be sure to follow the two examples below (use them as models), as well as the Rules of Dialogue that follow.

Examples:

1.      “That was a real pretty dance, that dance they just did,” said Hazel.
2.      “Huh?” said George.
   
   


3.      “One can only hope,” he said, reaching for another, “that Dacca’s refugees are as heartily fed. Which reminds me.” He reached into his suit pocket….
4.      My father said, “They are estimating nine million at the last count.”

Rules of Dialogue

• Every time someone new speaks, start a new paragraph. Skip to the next line and indent.(1-4)


• Quotation marks signify that someone is about to speak. (1-4)


• Capitalize the first word they are saying inside the quotation mark. (1-4)


• If a sentence continues outside the dialogue, put a comma and then a quotation mark at the end of the dialogue. (1-2)


• If a sentence ends with the dialogue, put a period and then a quotation mark at the end of the dialogue. (4)


• If the dialogue is a question, put a question mark, then a quotation mark. (2)


• If the dialogue is an exclamation, put an exclamation point, then a quotation mark. (“Wow!”)


• If a dialogue tag comes after the dialogue, the first word is not capitalized. (1-2)


• If a dialogue tag comes before the dialogue, put a comma BEFORE the quotation mark. (4)


• If a dialogue tag interrupts the dialogue, put a comma INSIDE the first
  quotation mark and a comma BEFORE the next block of dialogue. Do not
  capitalize the first word of the next block. (3)


• If a dialogue tag interrupts the dialogue and the first section of dialogue is a complete sentence, you may follow the dialogue tag with a period. The next section of dialogue would begin with a capital letter inside the quotation mark. There is no need to start a new paragraph. ("Juliet, I love you," said Romeo. "I really, really do.")