Speech marks are used for showing direct speech.
Where should they go in the following text:
Click on the text and type in speech marks (" ") using your keyboard.

Where are you going tonight? I asked.

"Where are you going tonight?" I asked.

Think I'll head off to the BMX track, Ryan replied.

"Think I'll head off to the BMX track", Ryan replied.

I thought your bike got stolen last week.

"I thought your bike got stolen last week."

No I found it later that night at the back of the tip.

"No I found it later that night at the back of the tip."

That's lucky – I bet you were made up!

"That’s lucky – I bet you were made up!"

Yeah but it took me all weekend to fix it up again. Next time I'll lock it up! he said, grinning at me.

"Yeah but it took me all weekend to fix it up again. Next time I'll lock it up!" he said, grinning at me.


Spot some examples of non-Standard English. Why is slang used?

Direct speech: which rules apply? (click for help)

Start with a capital straight after speech marks.

Start a new paragraph for every new speaker.

Always introduce speech with he or she said.

The speech marks only go around the words that are said.

Always use Standard English in direct speech.

Use a punctuation mark before the end speech-marks.

Never break up a section of direct speech – it’s rude.

Don’t use a full stop if you are carrying on after speech.

It’s usually better to say who is speaking after speech.


1. Correct all the direct speech errors in this passage.
2. Finish off the passage using direct speech correctly.

I opened my front door. My heart was beating madly and I knew I had to go straight upstairs before they saw me.
"Jo…you're back "
It was my mother. My face dropped.
"Why are you wearing that silly hat she said. I had to think on the spot.
I'm doing it for charity I lied. It's a sponsored hat-wearing!
"Don't be silly, it's bad luck to wear a hat inside a house
My mother was always superstitious.
Gotta run I shouted.
As I ran up the stairs my hat hit the ceiling and fell off. Then my mother saw it.

I opened my front door. My heart was beating madly and I knew I had to go straight upstairs before they saw me.
"Jo…you're back."
It was my mother. My face dropped.
"Why are you wearing that silly hat?" she said. I had to think on the spot.
"I'm doing it for charity," I lied. "It's a sponsored hat-wearing!"
"Don't be silly, it's bad luck to wear a hat inside a house."
My mother was always superstitious.
"Gotta run!" I shouted.
As I ran up the stairs my hat hit the ceiling and fell off. Then my mother saw it.