Quotation Marks

Use quotation marks at the beginning

and at the end of a direct quotation.
Joe said, Im going to wash my car.
Quotation marks are not to be used with indirect
quotes.
Joe said that he was going to
wash his car.
Explanatory words before a direct quotation are followed
by a comma.
My uncle answered, Ill send
you a postcard.
The period at the end of the sentence is placed inside the
quotation marks.
Ill send you a postcard, my uncle
answered.
Explanatory words after a direct quotation
are followed by a period.
The words of a direct quotation are followed by a
comma inside the quotation marks.
Commas are not used after a quotation when the
quotation is a question.
What are you doing here? asked
the baker.
You had better hand over that
jacket, Mrs. Mock! yelled the
security guard.
Commas are not used after a quotation when the
quotation is an interjection.
Place question marks and exclamation points inside the
quotation marks if they belong to the quotation itself.
If that team wins, Patty whispered,
Ill be surprised.
Use quotation marks before and after each part of
the quotation.
The second part of the divided quotation is not capitalized
unless it is a proper noun or unless it starts a new sentence.
Divided Quotations
Notice the commas.
If youre ready, said Paul, we can leave now.
I saw Mr. Prichard, said Amy. He was in the hall.
Use a period, not a comma, when the second part is a new sentence.
Punctuating Direct Quotations
Did Rachel say, Meet me in the library?
Place question marks and exclamation points inside
quotation marks if they belong to the quotation itself.
Mother said to Tim, Have you
finished the dishes?
Place question marks and exclamation points outside
quotation marks if they do not belong to the quotation.
Look out! Dad shouted.
The teacher said, There is no homework tonight!