In English, when using quotation marks to indicate direct speech, a comma is typically used to offset speech tags (e.g., "he said," "she asked"). The general structure looks like this:
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Before the speech tag: When the speech tag comes after the quotation.
- Example: "I'm going to the store," she said.
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After the speech tag: If the speech tag comes before the quotation, a comma is used before the opening quotation marks.
- Example: She said, "I'm going to the store."
If the quotation ends in a period, question mark, or exclamation point, those marks should be placed inside the quotation marks, and a comma is generally not used before the speech tag in that case.
- Example: "I'm going to the store!" she exclaimed.
Remember to adjust according to the context and punctuation rules of your specific writing style (e.g., American vs. British English).
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