Which sentence is correct?

Understanding Punctuation in Dialogue

When writing dialogue in a story or narrative, it is important to understand the correct punctuation rules to use. One common issue that writers face is whether to use a comma or a period before or after a spoken sentence.

Take for example the following sentences:

"How do mommies and daddies make babies?," said a shrill little voice in the crowded restaurant.

Or

"How do mommies and daddies make babies?" said a shrill little voice in the crowded restaurant.

So, which sentence is correct?

The first sentence is correct because you put a comma when you continue the sentence after the speech has been done.

In writing dialogue, a comma is used when the attribution (said, asked, whispered, etc.) is placed before the spoken sentence. It separates the spoken words from the attribution. On the other hand, if the attribution is placed after the spoken sentence, a period is used to end the sentence inside the quotation marks.