Rules for Capitalizing within Divided Quotations

For variety, writers may interrupt, or divide, quotations within dialogue. It is easy to remember how to punctuate those if we remember basic rules for capitalizing sentences:

1.     Capitalize the first word within quotation marks and the first word of any new sentences that begins within those quotation marks.

2.      If a quoted sentence is interrupted by the attribution giving credit to the speaker, the first word in quotation marks after the interruption isn’t capitalized unless it is the first word in a new sentence.

Examples:

“Rivers have always been important to humans,” Mr. Myers reminded the class, “for a number of reasons.”

“Do you mean the early civilizations,” asked Kathy, “such as Egypt and Mesopotamia?”