Punctuation · Speech Marks
Wrap the spoken words — and tuck the punctuation inside
Speech marks (also called inverted commas) go around the exact words someone says. The hardest part isn't the marks themselves — it's the punctuation that goes with them: the capital letter, the comma, and where the end mark sits. Learn the five rules below.
Rule 1 Speech marks hug only the spoken words
Open speech marks just before the first spoken word; close them just after the last spoken word (and its punctuation).
She said, "I am tired." — only I am tired. is inside (Rule 1).
Not the speaker part: "she said" stays OUTSIDE the marks.
Rule 2 Capital letter for the first spoken word
The first word inside the speech marks starts with a capital, just like a new sentence.
Tom shouted, "Wait for me!" — Wait has a capital (Rule 2).
Rule 3 A comma before the speech opens
When the speaker comes first, put a comma after the speaking word, then open the speech marks.
Mum asked, "Are you ready?" (Rule 3)
Rule 4 The end punctuation goes INSIDE
The full stop, question mark or exclamation mark for the spoken words sits inside the closing speech marks.
He whispered, "Be very quiet." · "Is it time?" she asked. (Rule 4)
Trap: never put the mark outside — ✗ "Be quiet".
Rule 5 When the speaker comes AFTER the speech
End the spoken words with a comma (or ? / !) inside the marks, then say who spoke with a lower-case verb.
"I'm coming," said Anya. — comma inside, then 'said' is lower-case (Rule 5).
Use a question/exclamation mark if the speech needs one: "Stop!" yelled the guard.
10 worked examples
Read the question, then the answer with the rule that solves it.
1. Punctuate: she said i am here
She said, "I am here." — comma before, capital I, full stop inside (Rules 2–4).
2. Where do the speech marks go? Come in, said the teacher.
"Come in," said the teacher. — marks around the spoken words only (Rule 1).
3. "are you coming?" he asked
"Are you coming?" he asked. — capital A, ? inside, lower-case 'he' (Rules 2, 4, 5).
4. Where does the full stop go? She said, "Sit down"
She said, "Sit down." — the full stop goes inside the closing marks (Rule 4).
5. stop shouted the man
"Stop!" shouted the man. — exclamation inside, lower-case 'shouted' (Rules 4, 5).
6. Does "said" take a capital? "Hello," ___ Mia.
said (lower-case) — the speaking verb after speech is not capitalised (Rule 5).
7. dad called, dinner is ready
Dad called, "Dinner is ready." — comma before, capital D, stop inside (Rules 2–4).
8. Which is right: "Run!" or "Run"!
"Run!" — the exclamation mark belongs inside the marks (Rule 4).
9. i'm lost, she cried
"I'm lost," she cried. — comma inside, lower-case 'she' (Rule 5).
10. What punctuation comes after 'asked'? She asked ___ "What is it?"
a comma — She asked, "What is it?" (Rule 3).