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Commas always come before a quotation mark when you are directly quoting another person’s speech, text, or thoughts. They also always come before quotation marks when using them to indicate dialogue in a written text. Quotation marks require you to apply punctuation in a whole new way.
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.
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.
When a comma or period is needed after a quotation, publishers in the United States typically put the punctuation mark before the closing quotation mark. The reason for this convention is to improve the appearance of the text.
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.
When to Use Commas Before Quotations. As a general rule, you should use a comma to introduce quoted material or dialogue, but there are three times you shouldn't.
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 ...
A comma is placed within the quotation marks to introduce a direct quote. If the description of the quote’s speaker is placed after the quotation, a comma is always placed within 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.
To identify the speaker of a quotation before the quotation appears, put a comma after the speaking-related verb (said, replied, stated, wrote, etc.).