Quotes and the Words That Get Us Into Them

I Am Back! Reading Quotes and the Words That Get Us Into Them 1 minute Next September

The term "lead-in words" is used to describe the words that introduce quotes. Traditionally they are

...I said...
...did he ask...
...she replied...
...did you state...

Some of the "modern" innovations are "I go" and "he went" and "I'm all."

When there are two sentences separated by lead-in words, a period has to go on one side or the other between the quotes.

... “I got there at 2:00,” he said. “Where were you?”

OR

... “I got there at 2:00.” He said, “Where were you?”

If the sentences could possibly go together, of course, the lead-in words are surrounded by commas.

..."I will not be deterred," I stated emphatically, "from my goal."

Happy punctuating!

Margie

Continue reading