How to Punctuate Dialogue

Writing dialogue itself can be tricky, but formatting and punctuating it comes with a whole other set of rules. Here are the basics of dialogue punctuation.

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro
0:38 - Using paragraphs
1:26 - Capitalization
1:40 - Comma placement
1:56 - Pronouns
2:45 - Punctuation
2:35 - Quotation marks

FIND REEDSY HERE:

[johnnydavidcreative]

I've wrestled with this for years and you've cleared everything up in four minutes. Why didn't I look for you sooner! Damn it! Okay, well, at least I finally understand. Funny thing is, I've kind of been doing it right by a sort of grammatical intuition, but I've not been strict throughout my manuscripts due to not really understanding the process entirely. I'm just about to compose my most recent trilogy as one book hardback so finding you now is perfect timing. I will unify the dialogue punctuation throughout. Thank you so much for this! This has been a massive, massive help! All the best; Rev. Johnny David. :-) []-)

[jayrobertmike]

Thank you - this was excellent. In less than 10 minutes (I watched the video twice to absorb it) I learned exactly what I needed to know!!!!

[tunnelsnake]

Best video on this I've seen, very clear and nice with great examples

[ardalla]

I find that when I have punctuation issues it's very difficult -- if not impossible -- to find the correct rule for the situation I have written myself into. For example, I just spent a half hour searching for how to punctuate this:

Just for SOMEONE to say, "I know Yui. I see her every day. She is doing fine. Don't worry about her, " is not an invasion of privacy.

The question is whether to put a period or a comma (or even no mark at all) after 'her'. It looks wrong no matter what. But I think the comma appears the best solution.

[GetToThePointAlready]

Man I'm so glad I found this channel~! I really was struggling with how to write my story and these videos have helped a TON! Instant sub!

[lostquartermaster]

This seemed so complex yet you made it simple.

[Zigurat]

In the example at 3:16, 'Listen to me.' and 'It's not safe here anymore' are two sentences, so the em dashes are not necessary, it could be written as just an action beat.

[pspolygons]

Great video. Straight to the point and full of helpful tips.

[vernalviolante]

The examples helped illustrate and clarify the confusing issues.

[emmaohdeary]

I'm creating a guide online to help writers, and this gave me some great tips, so thank you!

[antoniodossantos]

Thanks Greetings from Colombia The Venezuelan Immigrant writer 🌎

[HeadHunterSix]

The one problem with a new paragraph for different speakers is that a short response always looks odd to me, especially if it's less than one line in width. I may have been taught incorrectly back in my school days, but they always drove home that a paragraph should never contain less than three sentences. So it just looks strange to me.
"Did you get the shoes?" Bob asked.
"No, " she said.
On the page it just looks weird to me.

[angelorocha]

The music is overtaking her tips. but other than that great tips and info.

[elliotkopitske]

thanks for trying to help, but I am still EXTREMELY confused.

[mininovaband]

Thanks for the video. Completely off-topic, but your "vocal fry" or "creeky voice" is intense.

[cwfcwfcwf]

I use this in dialog all the time but you have me confused now, which is correct? "It's late, " she began, "let's go home." or "It's late, " She began, " Let's go home."

[juliaday]

Great content, but far too fast! Removing the music would be a great help too!

[davoman]

Thanks again for the information. But please drop the music its so distracting and was never needed before so why now. Otherwise these are really great videos thank you

[richardmauto]

Too quick and too brief but very good.

[roughblooduk]

I am disappointed because I cannot understand much of what you are saying because of the poor sound quality. You talk very fast and have put background sounds on with the subtitles switched off.