Differentiating comma/period use in mid-dialogue
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Track title: Puzzle Game 3
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Chapters
00:00 Differentiating Comma/Period Use In Mid-Dialogue
01:15 Accepted Answer Score 5
01:57 Answer 2 Score 1
02:15 Thank you
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Full question
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Tags
#punctuation #commas #periods #dialogue
#avk47
ACCEPTED ANSWER
Score 5
As I understand things, you place a comma after the interruption if the first quotation was not a complete sentence, and a period if it was. The rule really is as simple as you inferred. The stylistic element comes in where you have to decide how you would punctuate a quotation if it wasn't to be broken.
By example:
"My most worthy adversary, we meet again," becomes, " 'My most worthy adversary,' the villain scoffed, [comma] 'we meet again.' "
Whereas
"My most worthy adversary. We meet again," becomes, " 'My most worthy adversary,' the villain scoffed. [period] 'We meet again.' "
ANSWER 2
Score 1
You would place a comma after the interruption if the first quotation was not a complete sentence, but dialogue doesn't have to use complete sentences. Using the period in sentence 1 amounts to deciding not to use complete sentences within the dialogue.