Rules for using quotations
1. If a quote is more than one sentence long, put attribution at the end of the first sentence:
“I believe in free chickenfeed for all,” Hicks said. “Me and my chickens both think it’s important.”
(Note that there’s no need for additional attribution at the end of the second sentence.)

2. Don’t follow a quote fragment with a full-sentence quote:
Hicks said he “loves turnips. I think they’re great.”

3. Identify the speaker fully the first time name is used:
“I adore rutabagas,” David R. Davies, an assistant professor of journalism, said during an interview.
(Note that full name with middle initial is used on first reference. In addition, the title, if any, is used on first reference.)

4. Don’t attribute direct quotes to more than one person:
“I think the world of President Lucas,” said sophomores Fred L. Friendly and Joseph Wombat.

5. Use past tense throughout your story, and be consistent. Use the word “said,” not any of its synonyms: declared, stated, whimpered, scoffed, etc.

6. Generally, put the person’s name before “said”:
“I am a former rutabaga salesman,” Smythe said.
is preferable over this:
“I am a former rutabaga salesman,” said Smythe.
BUT: It’s OK to put the person’s name after “said” when the name is used with a long title:
“My wife left me to join the circus,” said Myers Smoot, toilet paper salesman and adjutant general of the Mississippi National Guard.

7. Put attribution at the end of the quote, as in the above examples. BUT it’s fine to put attribution at the beginning of a quote when speakers change, so that readers don’t get confused about who’s doing the speaking.
“The robber wore pantyhose on his head,” said Hattiesburg Policeman Yugata B. Kidding. “Misses Size 6, I think.”
But Police Sgt. Rufus L. Dufus said, “The Crime Lab analysis has determined that they could have been a Size 8.”
Note that on the rare occasions when you must put attribution at the beginning of the sentence, you use a comma to introduce the quotation.
Davies said, “I’m so tired I put my Dalmatian in the fridge.”

8. Don’t use partial quotes:
Lattimore said Davies was “a real big spender.”
Instead, prefer the use of full-sentence quotes:
“Davies was a real big spender,” Lattimore said.

9. Punctuate quotes using commas, not periods:
CORRECT: “The Toledo Mudhens are baseball geniuses,” he said.
INCORRECT: “The Toledo Mudhens are baseball geniuses.” he said.

10. Commas and periods that follow quotation marks always go inside the quotation marks:
“I traded my tennis shorts for a 1961 Edsel,” she said.
“I can’t decide whether to join the Boy Scouts or the Luftwaffe,” Pierce said.

11. Attribution is set off by commas if it follows the quote, or if the attribution comes before a direct quote. Attribution is not set off by commas if it comes before an indirect quote.
CORRECT: “Luther just set the meatballs on fire,” Ingmar said.
CORRECT: Davies just ate a Volkswagen, Ingmar said.
CORRECT: Ingmar said, “Luther sat on the heater.”
CORRECT: Ingmar said Luther has decided to raise wild chickens for profit.

12. Begin a new paragraph when a new person speaks.
CORRECT: “Sixteen years ago, I left this town for the big city and prayed I’d never come back,” Homer said.
Buelah sighed. “I wish your prayers had been answered,” she said.
Extras


Home • About the book • If you are a student • If you are an instructor • About the author

ab_webmaster@abacon.com
©2000 Allyn & Bacon
A Pearson Education Company
Legal Notice