How to punctuate dialogue

In another post, I discussed the difference between dialogue tags and action beats. That post contained a small section on basic punctuation of dialogue. But dialogue is punctuated in more ways than those listed in that post, so in this post, you’ll find more specifics about punctuating dialogue in various situations.

Example sentences come from the following books:
Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson [SMF]
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik [ADE]
Enchanted Ever After by Shanna Swendson [EEA]
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall [BM]

Dialogue tag before the dialogue

When you have a dialogue tag first, use a comma after the dialogue tag. Think of the dialogue tag as part of the sentence with the dialogue.

Abruptly he said, “What happened to Luisa?” [ADE]

Dialogue tag after the dialogue

For dialogue tags after the dialogue, use a comma at the end of the dialogue sentence. The exception is if that sentence ends with a question mark or exclamation point—if so, use that punctuation instead of a comma. The comma should go inside the quotation mark. Do not capitalize the next word unless it is a proper name.

“Wait, sorry, just remembered I’ve got to finish my new divining rod,” he said, cheerfully, but his eyes had narrowed. [ADE]

Dialogue ending with an exclamation point.

 “Wedding!” we shouted before breaking the huddle and lining up in formation behind Isabel. [EEA]

Dialogue ending with a question mark.

 “What is going on out there?” she asked. [EEA]

Dialogue tag in the middle of a sentence

If the dialogue tag occurs mid-sentence, use a comma at the end of the dialogue before the tag and a comma after the dialogue tag. Do not capitalize the first word in the dialogue tag unless it is a proper noun. Make sure to break the dialogue at a natural point rather than a random spot in the sentence.

 “Anyway,” I added desolately, “if I was a maleficer, I’d just suck all of you dry and have the whole school to myself.” [ADE]

Action beat before the dialogue

When you have an action beat before the dialogue, use a period at the end of the action beat. It’s a separate sentence and not part of the dialogue. It should not start with a capital letter unless it’s a proper noun.

 Cyril chuckles. “It was probably the Opera Ghost.” [SMF]

Action beat after the dialogue

When the dialogue comes before the action beat, put a period (or question mark or exclamation point) at the end of the dialogue (within the quotation mark). Again, the dialogue and action beat are separate sentences.

“I suggest you get to it.” Cyril pats the tenor’s shoulder. [SMF]

Action beat in the middle of dialogue

If the action beat comes between sentences, put a period and quotation mark at the end of the dialogue sentence, write the action beat as its own sentence, and open the continuing dialogue with a quotation mark.

“If there are any thieves on the loose, I will no doubt find them.” Cyril crosses long, thin arms across his chest. “Now, unless I am much mistaken, I thought I made it clear when I hired you his morning that you were to mop the third floor corridor by ten o’clock.” [SMF]

If the action beat comes in the middle of a sentence, use an em dash before and after the action beat (which should be a complete sentence), putting the dash outside the quotation marks.

“That’s”—he gave me a slightly crooked smile—“strangely reassuring.” [BM]

Dialogue that continues for more than one paragraph

First, make sure you need to have this character speaking for this long. Consider breaking up the dialogue with reactions from other characters or action beats from the speaker. Give your readers a little breathing space. If you do have one paragraph of dialogue that continues straight into another paragraph of dialogue, do not put a closing quotation mark on the first paragraph. Do use an opening quotation mark on the next paragraph.

“Here’s a lot of exposition that I’m explaining,” he said. “I’m going to talk at length without much of a break in the dialogue.

“See, here I come again with more exposition. Now I’m finally done.”

I made up the example because this type of dialogue doesn’t get used often anymore. Instead, I recommend breaking up the dialogue with some action beats, whether it be actions from the speaker or reactions from other characters.

When dialogue is interrupted

If the speaker is interrupted—by another person, something that happens, or even themselves—use an em dash (inside the quotation mark) to indicate the interruption. Do no use any other punctuation mark after the dash.

“Good. Because losing you would—” He swallows and pinches the bridge of his nose. [SMF]

Interruption by another character:

“Fine, so three times, then! You might at least—”

“No, I mightn’t” [ADE]

When dialogue trails off

If the speaker just trails off on the dialogue and isn’t interrupted, use an ellipsis (which should be three periods with non-breaking spaces in between). Note: You do not need to write “She trailed off” when using the ellipsis as the reader knows that from the punctuation being used.

“Speaking of Le Berger. . .” Cyril’s eyes sparkle, and a tiny smile plays at the corners of his mouth. [SMF]