Key learning points

1. Inverted commas are the punctuation that signal direct speech to the reader.
2. A speech interrupted sentence begins with a character's spoken words.
3. The character's spoken words are interrupted by the reporting clause.
4. The character's spoken words resume after the reporting clause and the speech interrupted sentence ends.
5. A character's spoken words must be chosen carefully to include a natural break when punctuating speech interrupted.

Keywords

• Direct speech - the term used for a character speaking out loud in a text

• Speech interrupted sentence - a sentence in which a character's speech is interrupted by the reporting clause

• Inverted commas - a pair of punctuation marks that signal direct speech to the reader

• Reporting clause - a clause that tells the reader who said the speech sentence and how

Common misconception