Welcome to the World of Talking!

Have you ever wondered how writers show exactly what a character is saying in a book? Without clear rules, stories would be very confusing! In this chapter, we are going to learn how to use inverted commas (also known as speech marks) and other punctuation to make direct speech clear and easy to read.

Think of inverted commas like a pair of "bookends" or "hugging arms" that wrap around the words a character says. They tell the reader: "Hey! Someone is talking right now!"

What is Direct Speech?

Direct speech is when we write down the exact words that someone says. To show these words, we use inverted commas.

In your lessons and tests, you might hear them called speech marks. Both names are correct! They look like this: " "

Example: "Pass me the remote, please," said Dad.

Quick Review: We only put the inverted commas around the words that actually come out of the person's mouth. We do not put them around the part that tells us who is talking (the reporting clause).

The Rules of the "Speech Sandwich"

Punctuating speech can feel like making a sandwich. You need all the layers in the right order to make it work! Don't worry if this seems tricky at first; just follow these steps:

1. Open the Inverted Commas

Start with " before the first word the person speaks.

2. Use a Capital Letter

The first word of the speech must always start with a capital letter, even if it is in the middle of a sentence.

3. The Punctuation "Inside" Rule

This is the most important rule! Before you close your speech marks, you must include a piece of punctuation. This could be a comma, a full stop, an exclamation mark, or a question mark.

Key Takeaway: The punctuation mark lives inside the inverted commas. It sits before the closing ".

4. Close the Inverted Commas

Put " at the end of the spoken words to show the character has finished talking.

Example: "Watch out for that puddle!" shouted Sarah.

The Reporting Clause

The reporting clause is the part of the sentence that tells us who is speaking and how they are saying it (e.g., said Tom or whispered the teacher).

If the reporting clause comes BEFORE the speech:

We use a comma after the reporting clause to lead into the speech.

Example: The coach yelled, "Run faster!"

If the reporting clause comes AFTER the speech:

We use a comma (or a ? or !) inside the inverted commas before the reporting clause.

Example: "I'm finished my homework," boasted Leo.

Did You Know?

If the speech ends in a question mark or exclamation mark, you don't need to change it to a comma, even if the reporting clause comes after it!

Correct: "Are we there yet?" asked Sam.
Correct: "I won!" cheered Maya.

New Speaker, New Line

When you are writing a story and a different character starts talking, you must start a new line. This helps the reader keep track of who is speaking.

Example:
"I think we're lost," whispered Ben.
"No, we aren't," replied Cara, pointing at the map.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Putting punctuation outside the marks:
Wrong: "Hello". said Gran.
Right: "Hello," said Gran.

2. Forgetting the capital letter at the start of speech:
Wrong: Mom said, "put your shoes on."
Right: Mom said, "Put your shoes on."

3. Putting marks around the whole sentence:
Wrong: "I am hungry, said the giant." (The giant didn't say the words "said the giant"!)
Right: "I am hungry," said the giant.

Top Tips for Success

The "Hug" Trick: Imagine the inverted commas are arms hugging the spoken words. Any punctuation at the end of the talking (like a comma or a full stop) wants to be part of the hug, so it stays inside!

Check the "Said" alternatives: In the GPS test, you might see reporting clauses using words like mumbled, shrieked, replied, or enquired. The punctuation rules stay exactly the same no matter which verb is used!

Chapter Cross-Reference: For more help with general punctuation like full stops and capital letters, see the chapter on "Sentence demarcation". For help with using commas in other ways, check out "Commas in lists, after fronted adverbials and to clarify meaning".

Quick Review Summary

  • Inverted commas (or speech marks) go around the words actually spoken.
  • Start the first word of speech with a capital letter.
  • Keep end punctuation ( , . ! ? ) inside the closing marks.
  • Use a comma to separate the reporting clause from the speech if the reporting clause comes first.
  • Start a new line every time a new person speaks.