commas with quoted speech
The commas that separate quoted speech from the words that identify the speaker.
A comma follows the words that introduce quoted speech: Olivia said, “The bus is late.”
When the words that identify the speaker interrupt a quoted sentence, a comma goes on each side of the interruption: “If we leave now,” Jason said, “we’ll beat the traffic.” When the interruption falls between two complete quoted sentences, a period follows the interruption, and the second sentence begins with a capital letter: “The elevator is broken,” Megan said. “We’ll take the stairs.”
When quoted speech comes before the words that identify the speaker, a comma replaces the period that would end the quoted sentence: “The game starts at seven,” Ryan said. A question mark or an exclamation point that ends the quoted sentence stays, and no comma follows it: “Where are my keys?” Karen asked.
No comma precedes quoted words that fit into the grammar of the surrounding sentence, such as a quotation introduced by that or a quoted phrase that serves as an object or a complement: The coach said that the team “played with heart.” Customers described the service as “slow.”
No comma follows read, said, or a similar verb when the quoted words are the text of a sign, label, or inscription: The banner over the entrance read “Grand Opening.”
See also comma with quotation marks; comma splice / run-on sentence; colon with quotations and subtitles; quotation marks: single / double.
Examples
UseSteve asked, “Has anyone seen my phone?” (Words that introduce quoted speech take a comma.)
Use“When the rain stops,” Jessica said, “we’ll leave for the beach.” (Words that interrupt a quoted sentence to identify the speaker take a comma on each side.)
AvoidBrian said “The printer is jammed again.” (A comma must follow said, because words that introduce quoted speech take a comma. Write Brian said, “The printer is jammed again.”)
Avoid“I’m almost home,” Heather said, “the traffic was terrible.” (The comma after said creates a comma splice, because I’m almost home and the traffic was terrible are separate sentences. A period must follow said, and The must begin with a capital letter. Write “I’m almost home,” Heather said. “The traffic was terrible.”)
AvoidThe mayor promised that, “the road will reopen in May.” (The comma after that is incorrect, because quoted words introduced by that fit into the grammar of the sentence and take no comma. Write The mayor promised that “the road will reopen in May.”)
AvoidThe label on the jar said, “Refrigerate after opening.” (The comma after said is incorrect, because quoted text from a sign, label, or inscription takes no comma after the verb that introduces it. Write The label on the jar said “Refrigerate after opening.”)