16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardComma before an attribution

Standard English Conventions practice question

"We leave at ____ the captain said.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. dawn,"Correct
  2. B. dawn."
  3. C. dawn"
  4. D. dawn;"

Answer: A. dawn,"

A quoted statement followed by an attribution ends with a comma inside the closing quotation mark.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. dawn."
A full stop would end the sentence before the attribution.
C. dawn"
No punctuation between the quotation and the attribution.
D. dawn;"
A semicolon does not go here.

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