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Myriora English › Grammar and punctuation › Chapter 4: Punctuation

Speech marks

Ages 7–9Chapter 4 · Lesson 7

In this lesson

Your turn

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Show the answer

The exclamation mark is part of what Dad said, so it goes inside the speech marks.

The common mistake

Here's a common mistake. Lots of people put the full stop outside the speech marks. But the punctuation goes inside, before the closing speech mark.

Try it at home

Comic strip to story: draw two characters with speech bubbles, then write what they said as sentences with speech marks. Check the punctuation sits inside the closing speech mark.

Read the whole lesson

Hello, and welcome to Myriora English! Speech marks show the exact words that someone says. They're also called inverted commas.

Put speech marks round the spoken words only. The spoken words start with a capital letter. And the punctuation at the end of the speech goes inside the speech marks.

If the speaker comes first, put a comma before the speech. Sam said, I'm hungry. If the speaker comes after, end the speech with a comma, a question mark or an exclamation mark, inside the speech marks. Stop, shouted Sam.

Let's try one together. Does the question mark go inside the speech marks, or outside? Are you coming, asked Mum. Say it out loud!

Inside! The question mark belongs to the spoken words, so it goes inside the speech marks. Well done if you said inside!

Here's a common mistake. Lots of people put the full stop outside the speech marks. But the punctuation goes inside, before the closing speech mark.

Your turn! Which sentence is punctuated correctly? Pick the right card. You've got eight seconds, or pause the video. Go!

Time's up! The exclamation mark is part of what Dad said, so it goes inside the speech marks.

Quick review. Speech marks go round the exact words spoken. The spoken words start with a capital letter. And the punctuation that ends the speech goes inside the speech marks. See you next time!