How should a sentence that starts with a quotation be punctuated?

Proper Punctuation – Quotes

  • If you start by telling who said it, use a comma and then the first quotation mark.
  • If you put the quote first and then tell who said it, use a comma at the end of the sentence, and then the second quotation mark.
  • Punctuation always goes inside the quotation marks if it is a direct quote.

How do you quote a sentence with quotation marks?

How to Quote a Quote?

  1. In American English, use double quotation marks for quotations and single quotation marks for quotations within quotations.
  2. In British English, use single quotation marks for quotations and double quotation marks for quotations within quotations.

What is the punctuation for a quote?

Quotation marks and other punctuation marks In the United States, the rule of thumb is that commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks, and colons and semicolons (dashes as well) go outside: “There was a storm last night,” Paul said.

How do you start a new sentence after a quote?

If a quotation begins the sentence, set it off with a comma from the unquoted part of the sentence unless it ends with a question mark or exclamation point. Because the explanatory words simply continue the sentence, do not begin them with a capital letter.

How do you quote a statement?

Use quotation marks only when quoting someone’s exact words, either spoken or written. This is called a direct quotation. “I prefer my cherries chocolate covered,” joked Alyssa. Jackie kept repeating, “Good dog, good dog!”

How do you use quote in a sentence?

Examples of quote in a Sentence Verb He began his speech by quoting Shakespeare. The reporter quoted the police chief as saying that an investigation would be launched soon. He quotes the Bible frequently. Noun Each chapter of the book began with an inspirational quote.

How do you use quotations?

Direct quotes Quotation marks are used to set off any statement that is presented word for word as it was spoken or printed in another source. For example, in the previous example, the character said the words exactly as presented within the quotation marks: “I am getting worried,” she said, “that he has not called.”

Does the comma go inside the quotations?

Put commas and periods within quotation marks, except when a parenthetical reference follows. He said, “I may forget your name, but I never forget a face.” Place the punctuation outside the closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the whole sentence.

Do you put a comma before a quote?

As a general rule, you should use a comma to introduce quoted material or dialogue. That’s because in most types of dialogue, the quoted material stands apart from the surrounding text. In grammatical terms, it’s “syntactically independent.”

What are the rules for punctuating a quote?

Punctuating Dialogue and Direct Quotations : A Dozen Rules. 1. Use quotation marks to begin and end a direct quotation. Separate the quoted material from the dialogue tag by commas. Do not use quotation marks to set off an indirect quotation.

How to punctuate a quote with a speaker tag?

Here you look at the proper punctuation for statements in quotations with and without speaker tags. Quotations with speaker tags. Dumb rule 1: When the speaker tag comes first, put a comma after the speaker tag. The period at the end of the sentence goes inside the quotation marks.

Where do you place punctuation marks in a citation?

Also make sure that you place quotation marks correctly with respect to other punctuation marks and with citations. 1. The final period or comma goes inside the quotation marks, even if it is not a part of the quoted material, unless the quotation is followed by a citation.

When to use quotation marks in a quote?

Punctuation in a Quote: Quotation Marks Use quotation marks to set off all direct quotations. Quotation marks are used in pairs; the first mark indicates the beginning of the quotation and the second mark conveys its conclusion. Note also that the speaker and the verb should not be included within the quotation marks.