Writing Speech

WRITING SPEECH

What do we already know?

Two Types
Direct speech: the exact words.
Indirect speech: the gist

Indirect speech
Do not use quotation marks.
Just convey the meaning rather than the exact words.
Eg. Barry said that he would go to the footy later in the day.

What do we use direct speech in our writing?

Direct speech
Use the exact words, even errors.
Put quotation marks around the exact words used.
Punctuation marks belong inside the quotation marks.
Eg. Barry said, “I think I’ll go to the footy later today.”

Full stop becomes a comma
When followed by a speech verb, the full stop becomes a comma.
“ Great,” said Spot.
“ It’s time to go,” she said.

Other punctuation remains the same
Only the full stops get changed.
“ It’s time to go,” Shirley announced.
“ Where is it?” Barry asked.
“ What!” exclaimed Sally.
“ I wonder...” Brian trailed off into silence.

Comma After A Starting Speech Verb
When the speech verb comes first, there is a comma before the first quotation marks.
She said, “It’s time to go”.
Spot said, “Great.”

Errors in direct speech
When you are repeating speech with errors include [sic]. This shows that you know it is an error.
Barry said, “I’d be really weary [sic] of that.”

Write these out with correct punctuation
“ Where do you think you’re going” Bert demanded.
Stacey replied “Nowhere. Nowhere at all”
“ Stop” Bob shouted.
Bert asked “Why”
“ It’s not safe” replied Stacey.

“ Where do you think you’re going?” Bert demanded.

Stacey replied, “Nowhere. Nowhere at all.”

“ Stop!” Bob shouted.

Bert asked, “Why?”

“ It’s not safe,” replied Stacey.

More to correct
“ I wonder where we are going” Bob said.
Trevor replied “I have no idea. You’ll have to ask Julie”
“ Julie” Bob asked “How much further”
“ Perhaps a mile” she replied. “Maybe a little more”
“ Terrific” Bob moaned.

“ I wonder where we are going” Bob said.
“ I wonder where we are going,” Bob said.

Trevor replied “I have no idea. You’ll have to ask Julie”
Trevor replied, “I have no idea. You’ll have to ask Julie.”

“ Julie” Bob asked “How much further”
“ Julie,” Bob asked, “How much further?”

“ Perhaps a mile” she replied. “Maybe a little more”
“ Perhaps a mile,” she replied. “Maybe a little more.”

“ Terrific” Bob moaned.
“ Terrific,” Bob moaned.

Check your answers

Leaving out words
If you need to leave words out of a direct quote, use an ellipsis.
Barry said, “I can’t believe this is happening to me. I feel like I must be the unluckiest man alive!”
Barry said, “I can believe this...I must be the luckiest man alive”

Writing Speech

by Mark O'Meara on Aug 05, 2009

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Writing Speech — Presentation Transcript