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When to use a comma. As a general rule, you should use a comma to introduce quoted material or dialogue. That’s because in most types of dialogue, the quoted material stands apart from the surrounding text. In grammatical terms, it’s “syntactically independent.”.
Comma Rule #1: A comma belongs before the quotation marks when placed after an introductory expression. An introductory expression is a phrase or clause that acts as a qualifying or clarifying statement about the rest of the sentence.
You can use a colon, a comma, or nothing before a quotation. Use a colon after an introduction that is an independent clause or if the quotation is at least one sentence. If the introduction is not an independent clause (and most aren't), you can use a comma.
If you’re breaking up a quotation, place a comma after the first part of the quote (inside quotation marks), followed by a comma and space before the second part (outside the quotation marks). Place both parts of the quote within their own set of quotation marks.
Does the Comma Go Before or After the Closing Quotation Mark? In American English, you should always place a comma or period inside the quotation marks. That means the comma should always come right before the closing quotation mark, even if it’s not part of the quoted material.
Use commas to introduce or interrupt direct quotations of dialogue or text. Examples: He said, “I don't care.” “Why,” I asked, “don't you care?” Toni Morrison wrote, “If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” This rule is optional with one-word quotations. Example: He said “Stop.” Rule 3b.
In American English grammar, commas and periods should be placed within the quotation marks as long as they don’t change the meaning of the quotation. This means that if a comma or period is not part of your quoted material, it should be placed outside of the quotation marks.
If a direct quotation is interrupted mid-sentence, do not capitalize the second part of the quotation. "I didn't see an actual alien being," Mr. Johnson said, "but I sure wish I had." In all the examples above, note how the period or comma punctuation always comes before the final quotation mark.
Conclusion. FAQs. Before You Go… Should You Use a Comma Before the Quotation Mark Punctuation? The rule is you should use a comma before introducing a dialogue or quoted phrases in a sentence unless the material fits right into the sentence’s flow. Example: The secret agent said there’s “no smoking gun” to be discovered.
A comma indicates that the quoted material is seen as syntactically independent from the surrounding text. A quote that is seen more clearly as the direct object of a speaking verb, however, does not need a comma: He wrote “Yes” in large letters.