In Russian, any “foreign” speech expressed verbatim and included in the author’s text is called direct. In conversation, she stands out with pauses and intonation. And in a letter it can be highlighted in two ways: in one line “in selection” or by writing each remark from a paragraph. Direct speech, to form it correctly, is a rather difficult topic for children. Therefore, when studying rules alone, it is not enough; there must be clear examples of writing such sentences.

How to highlight dialogue in writing

Direct speech “dialogue”, punctuation marks and the formatting of conversations in writing is a rather complex topic that needs to be properly understood. Firstly, remarks belonging to different persons are most often recorded from a paragraph. For example:

- Look into that nest over there: is there anything there?

- There is nothing. Not a single egg!

- Are there any shells near the nest?

- There are no shells!

- What's happened!? It's not like some kind of animal is in the habit of stealing eggs - we need to trace it!

Two persons, designed using paragraph marking, in which each new paragraph with a remark from one of the interlocutors must always begin with a dash and a capital letter. Replies may consist of one or more exclamation or interrogative types.

Secondly, direct speech, after which punctuation marks are placed in a special order, can be written in one line. To format the dialogue in this way “in a selection” without indicating who exactly they belong to, each of them must be enclosed in quotation marks and highlighted with a dash. For example:

“Well, what are you doing?” - “I’m afraid, what if the ladder falls?” - “The ladder won’t fall, but you might drop the basket with eggs!”

If one of the statements is followed by author's notes, the dash before the next phrase is omitted. And a comma and a dash are placed before the author’s words.

“She’s sleeping,” Tanya said. “Show me where he sleeps!”

Direct speech before and after the author's text

If, in writing a conversation between several people, the author’s preliminary words are included, then a colon is placed after them. Moreover, it is also mandatory in cases where there is no verb that determines the continuation of the conversation, but direct speech is clearly visible. For example:

Mother smiled:

- You are my smart girl!

This phrase can also be written in one line, only then you need to use quotes: For example:

The mother smiled: “My good girl!”

It is worth noting that unspoken thoughts or inner speech of the author are always highlighted in quotation marks, regardless of where in the sentence it is located. Echo sounds are also placed in quotation marks in writing. For example:

“Now I’d like some hot tea,” he thought.

I stand and think: “Why is this rain?”

"Hey, people?" - the echo repeated loudly.

Before writing words of direct speech, always put a colon after the author’s words and open quotation marks. The remark always begins with a capital letter, an exclamation point is placed before the closing quotation marks, or a period is placed only after the quotation marks.

Special cases of formatting direct speech

There are some cases where after the words of the author there is direct speech, the punctuation marks in which are slightly different from those described above. Namely, if in the absence of a verb denoting the subsequent remark, it is impossible to put the words “and said”, “and thought”, “and exclaimed”, “and asked” and the like, in such cases a colon is not placed after the author’s notes. For example:

Nobody wanted to leave.

- Tell us another story!

My words confused everyone.

- So you don't trust us?

How to highlight a quote in an email

Quotations given in the text are distinguished using approximately the same rules. If it is not given in full, then an ellipsis is placed where the words are missing. As a rule, quotations are always separated by commas, even if they are similar to Before a quotation with the first words omitted, they begin to be written with an ellipsis and, if it is located in the middle of a sentence, then with a lowercase one. Here, as in the case of direct speech, colons and dashes are used, which are placed according to already known rules regarding the location of the quotation.

Author's notes inside direct speech

In the case where the author’s words need to be inserted into direct speech in the text, the statements are enclosed in quotation marks along with the author’s notes. For example:

“I’ll go to my grandmother,” the kid said, “and that’s all!”

There are cases when quotation marks are not used at all, commas are used instead:

• If there is no clear identification of the person to whom the remark belongs, or when a well-known proverb is used in the text.
• When it is difficult to determine whether we are talking directly or indirectly.
• If the statement includes the word “says”. For example: He says, I’ll show you again!
• If the statement contains an indication of the source. Most often this applies to periodicals. For example: The speech from the stage, the correspondent notes, blew up the hall with applause.

If, when breaking statements, direct speech should not have ended with any sign, or a comma, dash, colon or semicolon was provided, then a comma and a dash are placed before the author’s words, and a period and a dash are placed at the end. Then the rest of the replica is written in capital letters. For example:

“I’ll be gone for a few minutes,” said Helen. “I’ll be there soon.”

In cases where in the first part of direct speech there should have been a question or exclamation mark before the break, it is placed before the dash and the author's words, after which they put a period and then direct speech continues after the dash. The ellipsis with colon is also preserved.

Instead of a conclusion

Direct speech, which is not so difficult to learn, is found very often in literary works. Therefore, books can be a good visual aid for studying this topic. After all, visual perception, together with knowledge of the rules, can well consolidate knowledge on the topic “Direct Speech” in memory.

Punctuation marks, sentence patterns with the location of direct speech and quotations in the text are studied at school for many years, which is understandable, because this section of the Russian language is quite voluminous and has many subtleties. However, the basic rules that are most often used in writing are not that difficult to remember.

Rules of Russian spelling and punctuation. Complete academic reference book Lopatin Vladimir Vladimirovich

Punctuation marks for direct speech

§ 133. Direct speech, i.e., the speech of another person, included in the author’s text and reproduced verbatim, is formatted in two ways.

1. If direct speech is included in a line (in a selection), then it is enclosed in quotation marks: « I regret that I didn't know your father“,” she said after a while. - He must have been very kind, very serious, loved you very much" Luzhin remained silent(Eb.).

2. If direct speech begins with a paragraph, then a dash is placed in front of it (there are no quotation marks):

Fedya and Kuzma were silent. Kuzma quietly winked at Fedya, and they went out into the street.

- This is what I came for: Did the Lyubavins come from mowing?

- We've arrived.

- Take Yasha and wait for me here. I'll pop home in a minute(Shuksh.).

Both methods of formatting direct speech can be combined if the speech of one person also includes the direct speech of another person:

- Did I say so?

- Oh, terrible fool!(Bond.).

- Did you have a dream?

- I saw it. It’s as if my father and I went to trade a horse, we both liked one horse, my father blinks at me: “ Jump and ride» (Shuksh.).

§ 134. If direct speech is worth before introducing it in the author's words, then after direct speech a comma and a dash are placed, and the author’s words begin with a lowercase letter: “We understand everything perfectly, Nikolai Vasilyevich,” Solodovnikov quipped to himself, sitting down on a white stool.(Shuksh.). If after direct speech there is a question mark, exclamation mark or ellipsis, then these marks are preserved and a comma is not placed; the author’s words, as in the first case, begin with a lowercase letter: “Yes, I should have said goodbye!..” - he realized when the covered car was already climbing up(Shuksh.); “My blue-eyed guardian angel, why are you looking at me with such sad anxiety?” - Krymov wanted to say ironically(Bond.).

If direct speech is worth after the author's words, then these words end with a colon; punctuation marks after direct speech are preserved: I I tell him: “Don’t cry, Egor, don’t”(Spread); Philip mechanically moved the steering oar and kept thinking: “Maryushka, Marya...”(Shuksh.); I wanted to quickly get to the “office”, quickly pick up the phone, quickly hear the voice familiar to Dolin: “Is that you? It’s necessary, huh?”(Sol.).

1. If at the rupture site turns out exclamation or question mark, then it is saved, followed by a dash before the words of the author (with lowercase letters), after these words a dot and a dash are placed; the second part of direct speech begins with a capital letter: “Do I now give happiness to many people, as I did before? - thought Kiprensky. “Is it really only fools who try to arrange the well-being of their lives?”(Paust.); “Yes, be quiet! - ordered the duty officer. “Can you be quiet?!”(Shuksh.).

2. If at the rupture site there should be direct speech ellipses, then it is saved and a dash is placed after it; after the author’s words, a comma and a dash are placed if the second part of direct speech is not an independent sentence, or a dot and a dash if the second part of direct speech is an independent sentence; the second part of direct speech begins with a lowercase or capital letter, respectively: “Probably the mistress is having a fit...,” Mashenka thought, “or she had a fight with her husband...”(Ch.); “Wait...,” Lenka shouted, freeing his flaxen hair from his grandfather’s clumsy, trembling fingers, perking up a little. - As you say? Dust?"(M.G.).

3. If at the rupture site direct speech there should be no punctuation mark or there should be mid-sentence marks: comma, semicolon, colon, dash, then the author’s words are highlighted with a comma and a dash; the second part of direct speech begins with a lowercase letter: “You can’t understand,” I whisper, calling Ruslan into the next room and closing the door, “because we are different creatures”(Trif.); “So, it’s wilted a little, on one side,” Asya giggled in a youthful way, wrinkles scattering across her face, “like a stale apple.”(Trif.); “Suddenly you sow,” Semyon thought, “and ordinary barley grows. Most likely this will happen."(Sol.); “Yes, something is biting badly,” said Fog, “it hurts when it’s hot.”(T.); “But how will you play,” Darwin said in response to his thoughts, “that, of course, is the question.”(Eb.).

4. If at the rupture site there should be direct speech dot, then a comma and a dash are placed before the author’s words, and a dot and a dash are placed after these words; the second part of direct speech begins with a capital letter: “They were disbanded before the verdict,” Dvornik said. “They will announce it tomorrow at nine o’clock in the evening.”(Trif.).

5. If the author's words break apart within the meaning of into two parts, which relate to different parts of direct speech, then if other conditions are met, a colon and a dash are placed after the author’s words: “Ehma... - hopelessly sighed Gavrila in response to a stern order And bitterly added: “My fate is lost!”(M.G.); “Don't touch the uniform! - ordered Lermontov and added, not at all angry, but even with some curiosity: “Are you going to listen to me or not?”(Paust.); “Have you ever smelled copper on your hands? - asked unexpectedly the engraver and, without waiting for an answer, winced and continued: - Poisonous, disgusting"(Paust.).

§ 136. If direct speech turns out to be inside the author's words, then it is enclosed in quotation marks and preceded by a colon; direct speech begins with a capital letter. After direct speech, punctuation marks are placed as follows:

a) a comma is placed if it was necessary at the break in the author’s introductory words: Saying, “See you soon,” she quickly left the room.;

b) a dash is placed if there is no punctuation mark at the break in the author’s introductory words: Overcoming awkwardness, he muttered a student witticism: “My grandmother fell ill with measles” - and wanted to give the conversation that had begun a casual lightness(Bond.);

c) a dash is placed if direct speech ends with an ellipsis, question mark or exclamation mark: The children expected him to praise them, but the grandfather, shaking his head, said: “This stone has been lying here for many years, this is where it belongs...” - and told about the feat of three Soviet intelligence officers(Dry); Pyotr Mikhailych wanted to say: “Please don’t get involved in your own affairs!” - but remained silent(Ch.); She[dog] stops. I repeat: “What is said?” - and I keep it on the counter for a long time(Priv.);

d) if direct speech is directly included in the author’s sentence as its member, then it is enclosed in quotation marks, and punctuation marks are placed according to the terms of the author’s sentence: Having told Grichmar the phrase “There is no easy life, there is only an easy death,” Krymov caught Stishov’s restless, warning glance(Bond.).

Note. Direct speech is not highlighted in quotation marks:

a) if there is no precise indication of who it belongs to (direct speech is introduced by an impersonal or vaguely personal sentence): It’s not for nothing that they say: the master’s work is afraid(last); They said about him: strict, but fair;

b) if an introductory word is inserted into direct speech speaks indicating the source of the message: He says, I want to finish college and get a profession.; or if a direct indication of the source of the message is framed as an introductory construction: The scientist’s article, the critic reports, aroused great public interest.

§ 137. If direct speech belongs to different persons, then each replica is highlighted separately in quotation marks:

a) replicas are separated from each other by a dash: “Is the samovar ready?” - “Not yet...” - “Why? Someone came there." - “Avdotya Gavrilovna”(M.G.);

b) if one of the remarks is accompanied by introducing author’s words, then the next one is not separated by a dash: “You’re a widow, aren’t you?” - he asked quietly. "Third year". - “How long were you married?” - “A year and five months...”(M.G.);

c) a dot and a dash are placed between replicas belonging to different persons and equipped with different author’s words: As he passed by, he said, “Don’t forget to buy tickets.” “I’ll try,” I replied.; if the first replica contains exclamation or question marks, the period is omitted: Passing by, he shouted: “Cheer up!” “I’ll try,” I replied.;

d) a comma and a dash are placed between remarks belonging to different persons, but united by a common author’s sentence: When the clerk said: “It would be good, master, to do this and that,” “Yes, not bad,” he usually answered.(G.); if the first replica contains exclamation or question marks, the comma is omitted: When I asked, “Why do you wear a carpet on your back?” “I’m cold,” he replied.; the same with a different arrangement of parts of the author’s sentence: When I asked, “Why do you wear a carpet on your back?” - he replied: “I’m cold”(Current.).

§ 138. When paragraph allocation lines of dialogue is placed before the replica dash; After the author's words preceding the dialogue, a colon or period is placed. If the author’s text contains words introducing direct speech, then a colon is placed after them; if there are no such words, then a dot is added:

Carmen took her hand away; the unfinished beat froze with a questioning ringing.

“I’ll finish the game,” she said.

- When?

- When you're with me(Green).

The telegraph operator, a strict, dry woman, having read the telegram, suggested:

- Make it up differently. You are an adult, not in kindergarten.

- Why? - asked the Weird. - I always write to her like this in letters. This is my wife!.. You probably thought...

- You can write whatever you want in letters, but a telegram is a type of communication. This is clear text.

The weirdo rewrote(Shuksh.).

The same with a single replica:

Shatsky walked around the room.

- Stuffiness, stuffiness! - he muttered. - The evenings here cause asthma(Paust.).

His eyes are lowered to his plate. Then he raised them to Nadya, ordinary blue eyes, smiled and said quietly:

- Excuse me. It's my fault. This is childish of me(Sol.).

§ 139. Paragraph and non-paragraph (with the help of quotation marks) highlighting of direct speech is used differentially. If the text alternates between external speech (addressed to the interlocutor) and internal speech (thought to oneself), then external speech is formatted using paragraph highlighting, and internal speech is formatted using quotation marks:

- Hm-yes. Well, you're right. Business cannot be exchanged for idleness. Go ahead and draw your triangles.

Nadya looked pleadingly into Ivan’s eyes. “Well, what’s so scary about that,” I wanted to tell her. - Tomorrow will be a new evening, we can go to the White Mountains. And the day after tomorrow. But it’s not my fault if I promised two weeks ago.”(Sol.).

And after my words, he smiled from ear to ear (his mouth was just from ear to ear) and joyfully agreed:

- Okay, then let's go.

“Here I’ll show you, let’s go,” - I thought to myself (Sol.).

Only the inner ( thought to myself) speech in the author’s text, outside of dialogue:

Kuzma looked where they pointed. There, on the slope of another slope, mowers walked in a chain. Behind them, the mown grass remained in even lines - beautiful. “One of them is Marya,” - Kuzma thought calmly (Shuksh.); Kuzma looked at her with joy. “What else was I, a fool, looking for?” - he thought (Shuksh.).