1. Use Quotation Marks:
* Enclose the dialogue itself within double quotation marks (" ").
* If the dialogue is within a longer quote, use single quotation marks (' ') for the dialogue.
2. Indentation:
* Indent the entire quote, including any dialogue, one inch from the left margin.
3. Formatting Dialogue:
* Speaker's Name: If you need to identify the speaker, include their name before the dialogue, followed by a colon.
* Paragraph Breaks: When the speaker changes, start a new line and indent.
* Punctuation: Place periods and commas inside the closing quotation mark. Question marks and exclamation points go inside the quotation mark if they are part of the dialogue, and outside if they are part of the sentence as a whole.
Example:
> "I don't know what to do," said Jane. "This is all so confusing."
>
> "Just breathe," said John. "We'll figure it out together."
Important Considerations:
* Ellipses: Use ellipses (...) to indicate omitted words or sentences within a quote.
* Brackets: Use brackets [ ] to add clarifying information or to correct a grammatical error within the quote.
* Italicization: If the dialogue is in a foreign language, italicize it.
* Short Quotes: If the quote is very short, you can include it within your sentence without indentation.
For example:
> John said, "I don't know what to do."
Remember: Always cite the source of your quote using footnotes, endnotes, or a bibliography, according to the style guide you are using (e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago).