Writing dialogue that contains quoted speech requires specific punctuation rules to ensure clarity. The standard method involves using single quotation marks within double quotation marks.
Understanding the Rule
When one character is speaking and they are quoting something another character or source said, the primary dialogue uses standard double quotation marks (" "). The words being quoted within that dialogue are then enclosed in single quotation marks (' ').
As a result, you would use double quotation marks as you normally would—around the entire line of dialogue—and use single quotation marks for the words the speaker is quoting. This clearly distinguishes the outer layer of speech from the inner layer of quoted speech.
Applying the Punctuation
Here's how to correctly format dialogue that includes quoted material:
- Enclose the entire spoken sentence of the current speaker in double quotation marks.
- Within that sentence, enclose the words that the speaker is quoting from someone else in single quotation marks.
- Punctuation related to the quoted material (like question marks or exclamation points) goes inside the single quotation marks if it's part of the original quote.
- Punctuation for the entire sentence (like a comma before a dialogue tag or the final period) goes inside the double quotation marks.
Practical Examples
Let's look at a common scenario, drawing from the provided reference:
Let's say Fred said, “I can't keep it together anymore.” And let's say Mary wants to repeat these exact words to a friend.
Mary's dialogue would be written as:
- "Fred told me, 'I can't keep it together anymore,' and he seemed really upset," Mary explained.
Notice:
- The entire sentence Mary speaks is within double quotes.
- The exact words Fred originally said are within single quotes inside Mary's speech.
- The comma before the dialogue tag ("Mary explained") is inside the closing double quote.
More Examples
Consider other situations:
- Quoting a question: "He looked right at me and asked, 'Are you sure about that?'"
- Quoting an exclamation: "She shouted, 'Stop the car!' before I could even react."
- Quoting a short phrase: "All he kept saying was, 'It's fine, it's fine,' but I knew it wasn't."
Summary Table
| Punctuation Mark | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Double Quotation Marks | Enclose the entire line of dialogue speaking. | "This is what I said," she stated. |
| Single Quotation Marks | Enclose words quoted within the dialogue. | "He told me, 'That's impossible,' yesterday." |
By following these rules, you can effectively and correctly represent speech that contains other quoted speech, making your writing clear and easy for readers to follow.
