Business English: A Practice Book by Rose Buhlig

5. When the author's words of explanation interrupt the speaker's words,

the punctuation is as follows: (_a_) When the interrupted parts are not naturally separated by any punctuation mark, the comma is used as follows: I do not believe that the report is true. "I do not believe," he said, "that the report is true." Notice in what way the quotation marks show that the words _he said_ do not belong to the quoted words. (_b_) Whatever mark of punctuation would naturally appear between the interrupted parts must be used; as, (1) I shall buy the Boston ferns; they seem to require but little care. "I shall buy the Boston ferns," she said; "they seem to require but little care." (2) Oh! The flames are higher! "Oh!" she cried. "The flames are higher!"