Inverted commas (speech marks)

Speech marks (inverted commas) go around the exact words someone says: ⟦“Come here,” said Dad.⟧ The punctuation of the speech stays inside the speech marks, and each new speaker starts on a new line. British books often use single marks (⟦'Come here,' said Dad.⟧); both are correct.

Key facts

  • Only the spoken words go inside: ⟦“I'm hungry,” said Leo.⟧ (Leo says ⟦I'm hungry⟧).
  • Speaker after the speech: a statement ends with a comma inside the marks: ⟦“It's late,” said Mia.⟧ A question or exclamation keeps its mark: ⟦“Where are you?” asked Mia.⟧ ⟦“Stop!” shouted Mia.⟧
  • Speaker first: a comma before the speech marks, and the speech ends with its own mark: ⟦Mia said, “It's late.”⟧
  • The spoken words start with a capital letter: ⟦Omar asked, “Can we play outside?”⟧
  • New speaker, new line: each time a different person speaks, start a new line.

Worked examples

Example 1

Punctuate: ⟦where are you going asked mum⟧

  1. The spoken words are ⟦Where are you going⟧: a question.
  2. Question mark inside the speech marks, then ⟦asked Mum⟧ with a full stop: ⟦“Where are you going?” asked Mum.⟧

Answer: ⟦“Where are you going?” asked Mum.⟧

Example 2

Which is correct? ⟦“It is late”, said Dad.⟧ or ⟦“It is late,” said Dad.⟧

  1. The comma belongs to the speech.
  2. It goes inside the speech marks: ⟦“It is late,” said Dad.⟧

Answer: ⟦“It is late,” said Dad.⟧

Example 3

Punctuate: ⟦the teacher said please sit down⟧

  1. The speaker comes first, so put a comma before the speech marks.
  2. Start the speech with a capital and end it with a full stop inside: ⟦The teacher said, “Please sit down.”⟧

Answer: ⟦The teacher said, “Please sit down.”⟧