Language: text structure and punctuation
Punctuating direct speech
Punctuate a sentence that reports somebody's exact words, with the marks in the right places.
Direct speech is somebody's exact words, written down as they were said. The marks around them are not decoration: they are what tells the reader where the speaking starts and where it stops.
Speech marks hold the exact words
Everything that came out of the speaker's mouth goes inside the marks. Everything else — said Ravi, asked the teacher — stays outside them.
The spoken words start with a capital
"Wash your hands," said Father. Even though the speaking begins in the middle of the sentence, it begins with a capital letter, because it is a sentence of its own.
A comma joins the two halves
When the speech comes first, the comma goes at the end of the speech: "Wash your hands," said Father. When the speech comes second, the comma goes before it: Father said, "Wash your hands."
The end mark stays inside
The full stop, question mark or exclamation mark that belongs to the spoken words is written inside the speech marks, never after them. "Where is my bag?" asked Anna.
A question keeps its question mark
If the speaker asked something, the spoken words end in a question mark and no comma is needed: "Are you coming?" asked Ravi. The same goes for a shout and its exclamation mark.
Worked example
Punctuate this: can we go now asked the twins
Find the spoken words: can we go now.
"Asked the twins" tells you who spoke, so it is not part of what was said.
Try it together
Let us repair three sentences, one mistake at a time.
Each answer is a single word. Read the sentence carefully before you write anything.
1.Ravi said, "the bus is late." One word in the speech is wrong. Write the word that should have started with a capital letter.
Have a go
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Ready to practise?
Eight questions on what you have just read. Nothing is timed, and you can play as many times as you like.