Punctuation in direct speech

We use inverted commas (also called quotation marks, quotes or speech marks) to indicate direct speech. Double quotes (") are preferred in American English, while single quotes (') are more common in British English:

"I'm coming home late tonight," she said. (American English)
'I'm coming home late tonight,' she said. (British English)

If we quote within direct speech, we use the other style for the embedded quotation:

"She said, 'I'm coming home late tonight'," recalled Jim. (American English)
'She said, "I'm coming home late tonight",' recalled Jim. (British English)

As can be seen in the examples above, a comma (,) is used at the end of the quotation, before the closing speech mark.

A comma is also used before the quotation if we start the sentence with the reporting clause. In this case the terminal full stop (.) comes before the closing speech mark:

She added, "Don't expect me before 11."

If the quotation is a question or exclamation, the terminal marks (? and !) also come before the closing speech marks:

"Hurry up!" he shouted.
She asked, "Am I late?"

The quotation normally begins with a capital letter, except if it is interrupted by a reporting clause, in which case the first letter of the continuation is not capitalised:

"I'm coming home late tonight," she said and added, "don't expect me before 11."