How to Use a Comma Before Quotation Marks

Remembering the rules for using a comma before quotation marks can be a bit tricky. Fortunately, there are only a few such rules to commit to memory. Use a comma after verbs of communication introducing a quotation, and between split quotations. Study the following examples and you will avoid the most common mistakes.

Instructions

1. Use a comma after verbs of communication, such as "asked" or "said," when they come right before a quote. Example: The short fellow asked, "How's the weather up there?"

2. Use a comma after the clause between the first and second part of a split quote. Example: "No one is here yet," she complained, smoking a cigarette, "and it's almost midnight."

3. Do not use a comma if the first part of a quote ends with an exclamation point or question mark. Instead, use a period, as in the following example: "You fools!" the terrorist cried to his minions. "How could you let the prisoners escape?"

4. Do not use a comma after a subordinating clause that introduces a quote. No punctuation is necessary. Example: She told me that I should "kick back and put my feet up."

Tips & Warnings

• Make friends with grammarians. They are more than happy to correct your punctuation errors.

Resources

• English Plus: Commas with Quotations