Dialogue and Quotation Marks — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
Tom said, "I read 'Charlotte's Web" last summer."
Corrected: Tom said, "I read 'Charlotte's Web' last summer."
A title quoted inside dialogue needs single quotes that open and close around just the title.
2. Fix the sentence:
"hi," said Sam. "hello," replied Jen.
Corrected: "Hi," said Sam.
"Hello," replied Jen.
New speakers get a new paragraph, and quoted sentences always start with a capital letter.
3. Fix the sentence:
Mom said, "She told me "come home now.""
Corrected: Mom said, "She told me 'come home now.'"
Single quotation marks distinguish an embedded quote from the surrounding double-quoted dialogue.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. When the speaker changes, you must start a new indented paragraph.
Indenting signals a new speaker so readers can track the conversation easily.
2. Use single quotation marks to show a quote inside another quote.
Single quotes nest inside doubles to keep an embedded quotation visually clear.
3. Lara said, "My favorite poem is 'The Road Not Taken.'"
Titles or quotes within dialogue open and close with single quotation marks.
4. Each time a new person speaks, begin a new paragraph.
A change in speaker is the trigger that signals a new indented paragraph.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. Why do writers start a new paragraph for each new speaker?
Sample answer: Starting a new paragraph for each new speaker helps readers know who is talking without confusion, especially when no dialogue tag is used.
Paragraph breaks act as visual cues that mark a change of speaker in dialogue.
2. When do you use single quotation marks instead of double?
Sample answer: Use single quotation marks when one quotation appears inside another, such as a book title or a quote within someone's spoken words.
Single quotes prevent confusion by distinguishing the inner quotation from the outer one.