punctuating direct speech

[roundcornvirgin]

1)'What is it?' asked Sam.

2)'What is it?' Asked Sam.

1 OR 2 - will check back later.

it is 1.

That's what I thought. I was shocked to see in the literacy book of a child I tutor that it had been corrected to 2 by the teacher. Can 2 be correct also?

No, definitely 1

It doesn't make sense for 2 to be correct - it is a capital letter in the middle of a sentence.

Now, should there also be a comma, as in:

"What is it?", asked Sam

?

No because asked is not the beginning of a new sentence. To be really pedantic, technically it is "What is it?" asked Sam.

It is definitely 1, but teachers make the occasional mistake, too, when in a hurry/stressed/having a blond moment.

Thankyou - you have put my mind at rest (thought I'd been teaching incorrectly for years when I saw it) but also I'm now in a pickle. Do I tell the child that the teacher is wrong or just leave it?

Yes probably a stressed moment - will leave it.

Personally I would tell the child that the teacher is wrong. How will they learn the correct way otherwise? I would also point out that teachers are human and it was a mistake on their part.

No Roundcorn. You should definitely say something. This sort of thing is important IMO. That's why we are in such a pickle with standards. at teacher

It is 1.

But I don't know why

Tis all one sentence, Quattro

No comma needed if there is a question mark or exclamation mark.

"Why the heck do people get speech punctuation wrong?" exclaimed Sam.

"I don't know!" retorted Emily.

"Thing is," interjected Amy, "they think it's complicated, when it's not."

And no, no comma.

And single quotes are fine. It's just a style thing and then you use double quotes for anything quoted within a speech.

Society would be a better place if we all interjected more.

In fact, I'll go further.

As a child, I disctinctly remember reading something along the lines of "Blah blah de blah!" ejaculated Biggles.

You should definitely tell your child that teachers make mistakes, too, and are only human. But don't make an issue of it with the teacher. One teacher's mistake of one moment does not affect standards. Teaching children to spot mistakes, trust their judgement and be understanding of others' failures would do a lot to raise standards in every area.

PM(S)L at 'ejaculated Biggles.'