Punctuation to Close Off Direct Discourse and Non-Lead-In Words
The Quotation Mark
Rulebase Summary
When the lead-in words have been separated from the direct discourse with punctuation and the sentence continues, use another mark of punctuation to close off the direct discourse. However, when the words that precede direct discourse are not lead-in words (the quote is the object of a preposition or serves another grammatical role), do not use punctuation before the quoted material.
Examples
A. He said "I'm leaving" and walked out the door.
A. He said, "I'm leaving," and walked out the door.
Lead-in words — comma before and after the quoted material.
Q. Did you respond by saying, "I object"?
Q. Did you respond by saying "I object"?
Quote is object of 'saying' — no comma before it.
Transcript Notes
When the word 'that' introduces direct discourse, it is not correct to use a comma after 'that' since 'that' makes the quoted material a direct object rather than introduced speech. Modern substandard lead-in words like 'I'm all,' 'he goes,' 'he's, like,' and 'I went' follow the same comma rules as traditional lead-in words.
Style Guide References (2)
BGGP
BGGP