Lesson Three: How to Space, Capitalize, and Punctuate Dialogue like a Professional

As a reader on Wattpad, this drives me absolutely insane. I really, truly do not want to come off as a snob, as I still read stories anyway, but literally it does kind of turn me off as a reader. However, if you're looking to honestly improve your writing, regardless if you ever want to be a published author one day, this is a necessity. Poor dialogue punctuation draws attention to your inexperience as a writer, and we don't want that, do we?

Some of you already know this, however, so this is a no brainer. However, if you feel uncertain about the more complex things of dialogue, please feel free to skim it and see if you knew these tricks already.

Disclaimer: This is how to properly write dialogue within the American English context of a book. However, I am unaware if it is written different elsewhere. If it is, and you know this, you do not have to adhere to this lesson at all. However, I merely am stating from the American English perspective, that this is the correct way to punctuate and space dialogue.

Let's Begin

Comma vs. Periods

A comma will always go inside the quotations and it separates the dialogue from the narrative.

Incorrect: "I didn't enjoy the movie", John said.

Correct: "I didn't enjoy the movie," John said.

Same is true for periods.

Incorrect: "I didn't enjoy the movie". John promptly walked away before Jane could say anything.

Correct: "I didn't enjoy the movie." John promptly walked away before Jane could say anything.

If you wish to have dialogue divided by a bit of narrative, place the second comma after the dialogue tag, and after the narrative if continuing the sentence. Furthermore, make sure to not capitalize the new sentence. IMPORTANT NOTE: This is only if you are separating the dialogue as an incomplete sentence.

Incorrect: "If my master wishes it,"Cristoph said bowing respectfully. "She will learn how to waltz before nightfall."

Correct: "If my master wishes it," Cristoph said, bowing respectfully, "she will learn how to waltz before nightfall."

However, if you are going to split two separate and complete dialogue sentences, then you may use a period at the end of the dialogue tag and capitalize the next sentence. Again, example below has two complete sentences in between the narrative.

Incorrect: "Oooh, how kind of you," you replied rolling your eyes, "who's going soft now?"

Correct: "Oooh, how kind of you," you replied, rolling your eyes. "Who's going soft now?"

Exclamation Points and Question Marks

If you are using an exclamation point or a question mark, both will replace a comma or a period. They are not used in addition to them. Note that the following sentences uses proper period punctuation in the narrative between the two distinct dialogue sentences.

Incorrect: "Are you trying to mock me?," She asked. "You'll have to try harder than that to annoy me."

Correct: "Are you trying to mock me?" she asked. "You'll have to try harder than that to annoy me."

Again, the above example applies to exclamation points as well.

Incorrect: "Shut up, cadet!," Her squad leader snapped.

Correct: "Shut up, cadet!" her squad leader snapped.

Ellipses and Dashes

Dashes indicate that the sentence was cut off, usually by another character interrupting. Ellipses indicate that the character's dialogue is trailing off, either because she is unsure of what to say or if she doesn't want to finish the sentence. You may add a question mark or exclamation point if the sentence allows it.

Incorrect: "I swear to god, let me break his fa..."

"Shut up!" she hissed. "Someone could be listening."

Correct: "I swear to god, let me break his fa-!"

"Shut up!" she hissed. "Someone could be listening."

I shall show an example of ellipses as well.

Incorrect: "I was just wondering if, possibly, you-" She trailed off and scratched the back of her neck. "Nevermind."

Correct: "I was just wondering if, possibly, you..." she trailed off and scratched the back of her neck. 'Nevermind."

Spacing/Paragraph Change

This is especially important, as I see a lot of new writers improperly spacing their dialogue out when multiple characters are speaking. Whenever the focus shifts onto a new character, begin a new paragraph. This way, it's a million times easier to follow what's going on and readers won't get confused as to who is speaking.

Incorrect: "I'm in love with you," Jiyong whispered. "I've been in love with you for years." She froze upon hearing his declaration and barely managed to find her words. "What?"

Correct: "I'm in love with you," Jiyong whispered. "I've been in love with you for years."

She froze upon hearing his declaration and barely managed to find her words. "What?"

Reminder, keep each character's actions/descriptive material to his/her own dialogue.

Incorrect: Jean ruffled her hair affectionately with his hand.

"Stop being so uptight!" he teased.

She rolled her eyes and brushed his hand away from her.

"Knock it off, Jean!"

Correct: Jean ruffled her hair affectionately with his hand. "Stop being so uptight," he teased.

She rolled her eyes and brushed his hand away from her. "Knock it off, Jean!"

Capitalization

First word of dialogue is always capitalized.

Incorrect: She said, "he always acts like that."

Correct: She said, "He always acts like that."

When dialogue is divided by the speaker's action or tag, then do not capitalize the second part of the dialogue. IMPORTANT NOTE: this is only for incomplete dialogue sentences.

Incorrect: "No matter what you dress me up in," she sighed, "Your kind will always see me as a peasant."

Correct: "No matter what you dress me up in," she sighed, "your kind will always see me as a peasant."

Never, I repeat, NEVER capitalize the dialogue tag. (Tags = said, yelled, moaned, etc.)

Incorrect: "Leave me alone," Griped Levi.

Correct: "Leave me alone," griped Levi.

More than One Paragraph of Dialogue

Typically, most editors and authors will recommend you don't do this, as most people do not monologue in real life. However, say your character is making a speech about something, then this tip would be useful. If you have multiple paragraphs of dialogue, omit the ending quotations at the end of the paragraph, but still put them in at the start of a new paragraph. In the example below, pretend there is a long speech prior to the correction.

Incorrect:  "(insert long speech)..." he began. "But I know that fear that fills your hearts, that shades your gaze! I know because I am afraid too. I feel it my soul, that very same fear."

"But I also know that we still have a fighting chance! We can still win this war!"

Correct: "(insert long speech)..." he began. "But I know that fear that fills your hearts, that shades your gaze! I know because I am afraid too. I feel it in my soul, that very same fear.

"But I also know that we still have a fight chance! We can still win this war!"

Two More Tips for Dialogue

Last bit of punctuating correctly, if you're writing according to American English publishing expectations.

I. Quotations within Quotations

This is usually in reference to a character quoting something that was said earlier from another character. A single quotation mark will be used around what was said before, and the regular double quotations are used for the character currently speaking.

Example: "Honestly, I wasn't sure it was him until I heard him say 'I will kill you. You're dead to me, father,'" she recalled.

II. When a Character is Thinking

Avoid placing quotations around a character that is thinking dialogue in his head versus saying it aloud. It will confuse your readers. Personally, I use italics for any character thinking something that I want my readers to see but not the other characters, though it is rare. However, that is a personal choice, because it's disputed on whether or not you should italicize a character's thoughts. Some say that if it's written clearly enough, there should be no issue knowing the character is thinking.

Example: The longer he waited, the more impatient Jiyong felt. He checked his phone for the time before his gaze searched the crowd of people exiting the terminal. Didn't she say her flight came in at noon? Where is she? ....agh, knowing her, she probably got lost. Maybe I should call her, he mused.

And that's it, my lovelies. I hope that this was clear enough for everyone. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to PM me or comment. See you next time!