In the sentence 'Christian replied, "And were you correct?",' which description matches the proper comma placement around the quote?

In the sentence 'Christian replied, "And were you correct?",' which description matches the proper comma placement around the quote?

• A. A comma after the reporting verb, before the opening quotation mark.
• B. A comma after the opening quotation mark.
• C. A comma before the reporting verb.
• D. No comma.

Answer: (A)

Punctuation after a reporting verb when introducing direct speech. When you attribute spoken words to someone with a tag like “replied,” you place a comma after the reporting verb and before the opening quotation mark to signal that the spoken material follows. The quoted sentence keeps its own punctuation, so the question mark stays inside the quotes. That makes the correct form Christian replied, "And were you correct?" The comma after the reporting verb is essential to show the pause between narration and speech; placing the comma elsewhere would misplace the natural flow of attribution and dialogue.

Punctuation after a reporting verb when introducing direct speech. When you attribute spoken words to someone with a tag like “replied,” you place a comma after the reporting verb and before the opening quotation mark to signal that the spoken material follows. The quoted sentence keeps its own punctuation, so the question mark stays inside the quotes. That makes the correct form Christian replied, "And were you correct?" The comma after the reporting verb is essential to show the pause between narration and speech; placing the comma elsewhere would misplace the natural flow of attribution and dialogue.