Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Original poster

Speech marks and commas homework, argh!

67 replies

amidaiwish · 29/09/2013 08:49

Homework help!!
Where would you put the comma in this sentence, in or out of the speech marks?

"I am going to the park", said Peter
Or
"I am going to the park," said Peter

Thanks!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
ICameOnTheJitney · 29/09/2013 08:55

It depends what's gone before and what's coming after though....

"I'm going to the park." said Peter. Seems more correct to me. His sentence needs it's own punctuation.

Original poster
amidaiwish · 29/09/2013 08:58

Nothing before or after. She's been given a list of sentences. DD has to put the comma to separate the speaker's words from the sentence.

OP posts:
CecilyP · 29/09/2013 08:58

It's the first one, amidaiwish. Sorry, Icame, but what you have said is wrong; it definitely doesn't need a full stop as it is all one sentence.

Original poster
amidaiwish · 29/09/2013 08:59

I do agree with you though, it's more of a full stop than a comma. But you would put it inside the speech marks. That's what I thought but a look on google says it goes outside in UK and inside in US. Guess either is ok?

OP posts:
donnie · 29/09/2013 09:02

There is no comma required.

"I am going to the park" said Peter

is the correct version.

goingmadinthecountry · 29/09/2013 09:03

Comma goes inside speech marks. Google is telling you lies.

Hawkmoth · 29/09/2013 09:04

Second one.

clam · 29/09/2013 09:05

The second one is correct. The comma goes before the speech mark, and is a comma rather than a full stop as 'said Peter' is still to come.

Original poster
amidaiwish · 29/09/2013 09:05

But the instructions on her worksheet state
We put speech marks around whatever is said in a sentence. The speaker's first word always begins with a capital letter. A comma separates the speaker's words from the rest of he sentence.
I'm confused despite my GCSE A and this is a 7 year old's homework. Blush

OP posts:
Shodan · 29/09/2013 09:05

Yes, definitely comma inside the speech marks.

pozzled · 29/09/2013 09:07

Yes, comma inside the speech marks. There is always some form of punctuation before closing speech marks. Full stop could be used if it were the end of the sentence:
Peter said "I am going to the park."
In the example in the OP, though, the sentence has nor finished so needs a comma.

CecilyP · 29/09/2013 09:07

Should add that if there is no more to it, there should be a full stop after Peter. If the entire thing had just said, 'I am going to the shop' (without the 'said Peter') then there would be a full stop within the speech marks.

tiggytape · 29/09/2013 09:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
amidaiwish · 29/09/2013 09:15

thanks all
will get DD to move the commas
she is mad, she had already put them inside, then i checked and got her to move them outside, then it didn't look right and i asked you lot. eek
for reference this site led me astray Angry
grammar monster]

OP posts:
englishteacher78 · 29/09/2013 09:15

Second option.
That is how it is done. Punctuation is necessary before the closure of the speech marks. The 'said Peter' is part of the original sentence not a sentence on its own.

Suzieismyname · 29/09/2013 09:16

First one.

tiggytape · 29/09/2013 09:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wanderings · 29/09/2013 09:23

Just don't write it the way the French do:

  • I am going to the park, said Peter.

OR

Je vais au parc, dit Pierre.

The French put a dash at the beginning of the line to show speech, but then they don't use quotes, not even when the person has finished speaking!

CecilyP · 29/09/2013 09:23

No, Shodan and pozzled, you are also wrong; in that simple sentence the comma comes after the speech marks. The only way the comma would be in the speech marks would be if it was something like;

'I am going to the park,' said Peter, 'and I am going this minute.'

I agree, amidiawish. that it is difficult for a 7 year old to get to grips with. And it obviously hasn't been taught properly in class if you have been saddled with the homework. (Not so much a 7 year old's homework but a 7 year old's mum's homework!) The worksheet is right though not as helpful, eg giving examples, as it might have been.

clam · 29/09/2013 09:24

Bit Shock as to how many people don't know this and are suggesting the first option, to be honest!

Mumzy · 29/09/2013 09:28

2nd as the comma seperates the spoken words from non spoken ones and commas be within speech marks HTH

Shodan · 29/09/2013 09:35

Sorry, CecilyP, but you're wrong.

The second one is correct, as tiggytape and englishteacher et al. have said.

Original poster
amidaiwish · 29/09/2013 09:37

the commas are now back INSIDE the speech marks. That looks right to me so will go with that . phew. who knew it would be so complicated. You're right CecilyP a few examples would have been helpful. there are a lot of non english parents in the class, i am surprised everyone hasn't been on email about this the whole weekend!

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 29/09/2013 09:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StuntBottom · 29/09/2013 09:49

Second one, definitely.

As an aside, I'd be interested to know the ages of people responding to this. I don't think grammar and spelling are as well taught as they were in my day (ancient old crone that I am!). I work in a school and see an alarming number of teachers - intelligent and educated individuals - whose spelling and grammar is appalling. All under thirty.