Which sentence demonstrates proper quotation punctuation?

Which sentence demonstrates proper quotation punctuation?

• A. Christian replied, "And were you correct?"
• B. Christian replied; "And were you correct?"
• C. Christian replied "And were you correct?"
• D. Christian replied, And were you correct?

Answer: (A)

When the speaker tag comes before the quoted speech, a comma is placed after the tag to lead into the quotation. The punctuation that belongs to the spoken sentence stays inside the quotation marks, so if the spoken line is a question, the question mark sits inside the quotes. That pattern gives: Christian replied, "And were you correct?" with the comma after the tag and the question mark inside the quotes. The other forms don’t fit because a semicolon isn’t used to join a tag and a quote, a missing comma after the tag makes the division awkward, and improper enclosure or punctuation of the spoken sentence breaks the standard structure.

When the speaker tag comes before the quoted speech, a comma is placed after the tag to lead into the quotation. The punctuation that belongs to the spoken sentence stays inside the quotation marks, so if the spoken line is a question, the question mark sits inside the quotes. That pattern gives: Christian replied, "And were you correct?" with the comma after the tag and the question mark inside the quotes. The other forms don’t fit because a semicolon isn’t used to join a tag and a quote, a missing comma after the tag makes the division awkward, and improper enclosure or punctuation of the spoken sentence breaks the standard structure.