[h.] When a quotation is interrupted by such an expression as he said,
1. An extra set of quotation marks is employed, and the interpolated words are normally set off by commas.
- Wrong: "I rise said he to second the motion."
- Right: "I rise," said he, "to second the motion."
2. A question mark or exclamation point should precede the interpolated expression if it would be used were the expression omitted.
- Right: "'May I go?'" complained father, "is all that boy can ask."
- Right: "Merciful heavens!" he cried, "we are lost."
3. The expression should be followed by a semicolon if the semicolon would follow the preceding words in case the expression were omitted.
- Right: "I admit it", he said; "it is true."
4. Neither the expression nor the words following it should begin with a capital.
- Wrong: "We must be quiet", Said the old man, "If we expect to catch sight of a squirrel."
- Right: "We must be quiet", said the old man, "if we expect to catch sight of a squirrel."
[i.] An omission from a quotation is indicated by dots.