Short Sweet Dialogue Quiz

1. Which of the following sentences is correct:

"Did he really call her a 'freak'?"

Did he really call her a 'freak?'"

The correct sentence is "Did he really call her a 'freak'?" This sentence is correct because it follows the proper punctuation rules for using quotation marks. Quotation marks should be placed at the beginning and end of the quoted text, and in this case, the punctuation mark (question mark) is placed inside the quotation marks as it is part of the quoted sentence.

Explanation

The correct sentence is "Did he really call her a 'freak'?" This sentence is correct because it follows the proper punctuation rules for using quotation marks. Quotation marks should be placed at the beginning and end of the quoted text, and in this case, the punctuation mark (question mark) is placed inside the quotation marks as it is part of the quoted sentence.

2. Which of the following sentences is correct:

"I asked you to go to the store." She said.

"I asked you to go to the store," she said.

The correct answer is "I asked you to go to the store," she said. In direct speech, the words spoken by a person are enclosed in quotation marks and followed by a comma before the attribution (e.g., she said). Therefore, the second sentence is correct as it follows the proper punctuation rules for direct speech.

Explanation

The correct answer is "I asked you to go to the store," she said. In direct speech, the words spoken by a person are enclosed in quotation marks and followed by a comma before the attribution (e.g., she said). Therefore, the second sentence is correct as it follows the proper punctuation rules for direct speech.

3. Why?

The dialogue is a complete sentence so you must use a period after it and capitalize "she."

When you follow a piece of dialogue with a verb of speech, even if it's a complete sentence, you change the period to a comma and continue the sentence.

Neither of the above.

Both of the above.

The correct answer is "When you follow a piece of dialogue with a verb of speech, even if it's a complete sentence, you change the period to a comma and continue the sentence." This is because when writing dialogue, the punctuation rules are different. If the dialogue is a complete sentence, it should be followed by a period and the next sentence should start with a capital letter. However, if the dialogue is followed by a verb of speech (e.g., "he said," "she replied"), the period should be changed to a comma and the sentence should continue without starting a new sentence.

Explanation

The correct answer is "When you follow a piece of dialogue with a verb of speech, even if it's a complete sentence, you change the period to a comma and continue the sentence." This is because when writing dialogue, the punctuation rules are different. If the dialogue is a complete sentence, it should be followed by a period and the next sentence should start with a capital letter. However, if the dialogue is followed by a verb of speech (e.g., "he said," "she replied"), the period should be changed to a comma and the sentence should continue without starting a new sentence.

4. What is an identifying tag?

It is the verb of speech and noun/pronoun that is used to identify who is speaking. (Example: "he said.")

The word or phrase that reveals the identity of a character. ("Roger was really Mrs. Parker in disguise."

The nickname or name that is given to a character to distinguish him from other characters. ("His name was David, but we always called him Shorty.")

All of the above.

None of the above.

An identifying tag refers to the verb of speech and noun/pronoun that is used to identify who is speaking. It is commonly used in writing to attribute dialogue to specific characters. For example, "he said" or "she exclaimed" are identifying tags that indicate the speaker. This helps readers to understand and follow conversations between characters in a story.

Explanation

An identifying tag refers to the verb of speech and noun/pronoun that is used to identify who is speaking. It is commonly used in writing to attribute dialogue to specific characters. For example, "he said" or "she exclaimed" are identifying tags that indicate the speaker. This helps readers to understand and follow conversations between characters in a story.

5. What is true about punctuating quotes inside of quotes? (Example: "Last night I hung out with my 'friend' Rene and she made me play Barbie all night!)

The question mark goes outside of the single quotation mark if it does not end the dialogue. ("Yesterday I asked him if his brother 'was the one who freed those birds from the zoo'? He told me that he wasn't.")

Periods go outside of the single quotation mark, but inside of the double quotations. ("I read in the paper today that his brother is the who 'freed those birds from the zoo'."

Commas always go inside the quotation mark regardless of how many there are. ("Is it true what I read in the paper, that your brother is the who 'freed those birds from the zoo,'" she asked.)

All of the above.

None of the above.

The correct answer is that commas always go inside the quotation mark regardless of how many there are. This means that in the given example, the comma is placed inside the quotation mark before the closing quotation mark. This is the standard rule for punctuating quotes inside of quotes, regardless of whether there are other punctuation marks involved.

Explanation

The correct answer is that commas always go inside the quotation mark regardless of how many there are. This means that in the given example, the comma is placed inside the quotation mark before the closing quotation mark. This is the standard rule for punctuating quotes inside of quotes, regardless of whether there are other punctuation marks involved.

6. How should you represent character's interrupting each other?

With a dash at the end of the speech.

With an ellipsis.

By ending with a period and starting the next line with something like, "Paul interrupted him before he could finish his thought by saying..."

None of the above.

All of the above.

When representing characters interrupting each other, it is appropriate to use an ellipsis. An ellipsis indicates a pause or interruption in speech, allowing for a smooth transition between characters. Using a dash at the end of the speech may create confusion or ambiguity, while starting a new line with an interruption phrase can disrupt the flow of the dialogue. Therefore, the correct choice is to represent character interruptions with an ellipsis.

Explanation

When representing characters interrupting each other, it is appropriate to use an ellipsis. An ellipsis indicates a pause or interruption in speech, allowing for a smooth transition between characters. Using a dash at the end of the speech may create confusion or ambiguity, while starting a new line with an interruption phrase can disrupt the flow of the dialogue. Therefore, the correct choice is to represent character interruptions with an ellipsis.

7. Which of the following is the best way to use commas in dialogue:

To demonstrate what words or phrases could be removed from the sentence without damaging the sentence's meaning. (When you, like, say something and it's hard to, um, tell what the person, um, means.)

To separate names and nicknames from the dialogue for clarity. ("Last night, Will, I saw the craziest thing.")

To help the reader under the flow of the sentence. ("It was hard to tell what he was talking about when he kept saying the same thing over and over and over again and I wasn't really listening" vs. "It was hard to tell what he was talking about when he kept saying the same thing, over and over and over again, and I wasn't really listening.")

None of the above.

All of the above.

The best way to use commas in dialogue is to demonstrate what words or phrases could be removed from the sentence without damaging the sentence's meaning, to separate names and nicknames from the dialogue for clarity, and to help the reader understand the flow of the sentence. All three options are valid and effective ways to use commas in dialogue.

Explanation

The best way to use commas in dialogue is to demonstrate what words or phrases could be removed from the sentence without damaging the sentence's meaning, to separate names and nicknames from the dialogue for clarity, and to help the reader understand the flow of the sentence. All three options are valid and effective ways to use commas in dialogue.

8. Journalism is a little different than fiction. How should you use quotes in journalism?

When a quote follows an action, keep it in the same paragraph. (Mr. Parks sat down at his desk overlooking the view of the ocean. "It's been a hard road to get to this point.")

When a quote is followed by an action, keep it in the same paragraph. ("It's been a hard road to get to this point." Mr. Parks sat down at his desk overlooking the view of the ocean.)

Finish a piece with a brief summary. (I learned a lot from talking to Mr Parks, like how much work it takes to get to the top.)

Change paragraphs when you change from action to dialogue or dialogue to action.

All of the above depending on your style.

The correct answer is "Change paragraphs when you change from action to dialogue or dialogue to action." This is because in journalism, it is important to separate different elements of a story to make it clear and organized for the readers. Changing paragraphs when transitioning from action to dialogue or dialogue to action helps to distinguish between different types of information and makes the article easier to follow.

Explanation

The correct answer is "Change paragraphs when you change from action to dialogue or dialogue to action." This is because in journalism, it is important to separate different elements of a story to make it clear and organized for the readers. Changing paragraphs when transitioning from action to dialogue or dialogue to action helps to distinguish between different types of information and makes the article easier to follow.