Business English: A Practice Book by Rose Buhlig

punctuation is as follows: (_a_) When the quotation is a declarative sentence, put a comma after the quotation and begin the words of explanation with a small letter; as, "The business is growing," he said. (_b_) When the quotation is a question, conclude it with an interrogation mark, and begin the words of explanation with a small letter; as, "Have you been waiting long?" she asked. (_c_) When the quotation is an exclamation, conclude it with an exclamation mark, and begin the words of explanation with a small letter; as, "Look!" he cried.