Using speech marks. Before we look at speech marks, let's quickly review direct
and indirect speech. Indirect speech tells the idea of what a person said.
The exact words are not given. For example: 'The girl said that she is tired.'
Direct speech tells the exact words that were said. For example: "I am tired," said the girl.
In comics, direct speech is shown using speech bubbles. These visual
representations let us know what is said and who said it. In other texts, such as
narratives, reports and newspaper articles, speech bubbles are not used.
Instead, speech marks are. Speech marks are also known as quotation marks and
they look like this, or they can look like this. Just like speech bubbles,
speech marks are used to show exactly what was said. Anything inside a set of
speech marks is the direct speech.
Here are some examples: "Open your books," instructed the teacher. "Let's go to the beach", said Sam.
Within a sentence, the direct speech can go at the beginning, like this, or it can
go at the end like this: Sam said "Let's go to the beach." Notice that no matter
which order, a comma separates the direct speech from the person talking.
There is a slight difference, however, if the direct speech is at the beginning of the sentence,
the comma goes inside the speech marks. If the direct speech is at
the end of the sentence, the comma is placed outside the speech marks.
Direct speech begins with a capital letter, even in cases such as this where the direct
speech is in the middle of the sentence. Where direct speech ends a sentence, the
full stop is placed inside the speech marks. This is the same for question
marks and exclamation marks, as long as it is the direct speech that contains
the question or exclamation. If the order is changed and the direct speech begins
the sentence, these punctuation marks still go inside the speech marks.
In these cases, the comma that normally separates the direct speech from the
speaker is left out.
Have a go at punctuating the following sentences. Be careful: one sentence has
indirect speech which means that it won't need speech marks. The sentences
that do have direct speech will need speech marks and possibly some other
punctuation. Pause here while you work.
The first sentence: here is the direct speech. Let's add in our speech marks.
Then we need to add a capital letter to the beginning of the direct speech.
Finally a comma is needed between the speaker and the direct speech.
The second sentence: here's the direct speech, and so our speech marks go here. There is a
question in the direct speech, and so we must use a question mark, and it must go
inside the speech marks. A comma isn't needed because of the question mark.
The third sentence: there is no direct speech in this sentence. Because it's indirect speech,
no speech marks are needed. The last sentence: here's the direct speech,
and so our speech marks go here. A capital letter is already starting the
direct speech, but we do need a comma. It goes inside the speech marks, after 'in'.
Remember, if you use someone else's words in your writing, use speech marks.
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