For example: 'Look over there,' she said, pointing to the corner, 'over by the bookshelves.' There are three different ways to write this correctly: Today I want to focus specifically on what happens when something (or someone) interrupts a character who's speaking mid-sentence.

I've seen so many different (incorrect) versions, and they do get quite inventive, but we definitely need to clear this one up.Īs a foundation, I am assuming you all know how to punctuate basic dialogue-rules like using a comma in place of a period with a dialogue tag, not capitalizing the tag if it's after the dialogue, etc. I'll admit, today's mini lesson focuses on a pet peeve of mine: punctuating interrupted dialogue.