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Academy11+

Free · Technique 5 of 10

Writing dialogue (and punctuating it)

How to punctuate speech correctly, start a new line for each speaker, choose said-words and use dialogue to show character and move the story on.

Jump to the practice task All 10 techniques

Dialogue is what the characters say. Used well, it brings a story to life, shows what characters are like and moves the plot along. Used badly, it fills pages with "Hi." "Hi." "How are you?" and nothing happens.

Dialogue also has its own punctuation rules. Getting these right is a quick way to show accuracy, and getting them wrong is one of the most common slips in children's writing.

Why it matters in the 11+

Many markers look at both the content and the technical accuracy of writing. Correctly punctuated speech covers both: it shows you know the rules, and it adds pace and character to the story.

A few lines of good dialogue can also save time, because a character can reveal a feeling or a piece of information in one sentence.

How to do it, step by step

  1. Put the spoken words inside inverted commas

    Only the words actually said go inside the speech marks: "Run!" yelled Maya.

  2. Punctuation goes inside the speech marks

    The comma, full stop, question mark or exclamation mark at the end of the speech goes before the closing inverted comma: "I'm ready," said Tom.

  3. Use a comma before the reporting clause

    If the speech comes first and would end with a full stop, change it to a comma: "It's raining," said Ali. Question and exclamation marks stay as they are: "Is it raining?" asked Ali.

  4. Start speech with a capital letter

    Ali said, "It's raining." The first spoken word has a capital, even in the middle of a sentence.

  5. New speaker, new line

    Every time a different person speaks, start a new line and indent it. This makes conversations easy to follow.

  6. Keep it short and purposeful

    Each line should do a job: show a feeling, reveal information or build tension. Cut the hellos and goodbyes.

Before and after examples

Each example starts with a plain sentence, then shows how the technique improves it.

Speech punctuation

Before

"Where are you going" said mum, "its nearly dark."

After

"Where are you going?" asked Mum. "It's nearly dark."

Why it works: Question mark inside the speech marks, a capital for Mum (used as a name), and a new sentence for the second piece of speech.

Speech that shows character

Before

"I am scared," said Ben.

After

"It's probably just the wind," said Ben, for the third time.

Why it works: Ben never says he's scared, but repeating himself shows it. Dialogue can show, not tell.

Speech with action

Before

"Give it back," said Isla angrily.

After

"Give it back." Isla held out her hand and didn't blink.

Why it works: An action instead of "said angrily" lets the reader feel her quiet anger.

Cutting chatter

Before

"Hello," said Jack. "Hello," said Fin. "Shall we go to the woods?" said Jack. "OK," said Fin.

After

"If we're going to the woods," said Fin, "we go now, before your dad gets back."

Why it works: One line replaces four and adds urgency and a hint of rule-breaking.

Alternatives to "said" (use some, not all)

  • Quiet: whispered, murmured, mumbled, breathed
  • Loud: shouted, bellowed, yelled, called
  • Questions: asked, wondered, enquired, demanded
  • Upset: sobbed, wailed, snapped, groaned
  • Happy: laughed, giggled, chuckled, beamed
  • Plain "said" is fine most of the time: it's nearly invisible to the reader

Common mistakes and how to fix them

  • Mistake: Forgetting to start a new line when the speaker changes.

    Fix: New speaker, new line, every time.

  • Mistake: Putting the full stop or comma outside the speech marks.

    Fix: End punctuation goes inside: "Stop," she said.

  • Mistake: Long conversations where nothing happens.

    Fix: Keep dialogue to a few purposeful lines, then return to action.

  • Mistake: A different said-word every single time ("exclaimed", "retorted", "interjected").

    Fix: Mix in plain "said", or use an action instead, so the dialogue doesn't feel forced.

Try it

About 15 minutes

Write a short conversation (six to eight lines) between two friends who have found a lost wallet. One wants to keep it; one wants to hand it in.

  1. Start a new line for each speaker.
  2. Check every piece of punctuation is inside the speech marks.
  3. Show each character's feelings through what they say and do, without naming the feeling.
  4. End with one line of action that moves the story on.

Finished? Read it aloud: if a sentence sounds flat, try it again. When you're ready to write a whole story, pick a title from the free story prompts.

Get feedback on a story Enter the free writing competition

Questions parents ask

What are the rules for punctuating speech?

Put the spoken words inside inverted commas, start them with a capital letter, put the end punctuation inside the closing inverted comma, use a comma to separate the speech from "said", and start a new line for each new speaker.

Should my child use speech marks or inverted commas?

They're the same thing. Primary schools in England usually call them inverted commas. Single (' ') or double (" ") marks are both fine as long as they're used consistently.

How much dialogue should an 11+ story have?

Enough to bring characters to life, but not so much that the story becomes a script. A few short, purposeful exchanges usually work well alongside description and action.

Is it bad to use "said"?

No. "Said" is perfectly good and often the best choice because readers barely notice it. Use a more vivid verb or an action when it adds something about how the words were spoken.