I'm writing a short story, and was wondering how you use quotes when characters talk?

You can see how dialogue is punctuated in this story.

http://www.literature.org/authors/poe-edgar-allan/amontillado.html

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/quotation.htm

Scroll down a bit.

When writing a short story and including dialogue, it is essential to use quotation marks to indicate that a character is speaking. Quotation marks are punctuation marks that enclose the exact words spoken by a character. Here's how you can use quotes when characters talk:

1. Begin a new paragraph: Start a new paragraph each time a different character speaks. This helps to differentiate between different speakers and makes the dialogue easier to follow.

2. Use double quotation marks: In most cases, double quotation marks (" ") are used to enclose dialogue. For example, if a character says, "I love chocolate," you would write it as: "I love chocolate."

3. Punctuation inside the quotation marks: Generally, any punctuation marks that are part of the spoken sentence should be placed inside the closing quotation mark. For example: "I can't wait to see you!"

4. New paragraph for each new speaker: When a different character begins speaking, start a new paragraph to indicate the change. This way, each character's dialogue is clearly separated and easier for the reader to follow.

5. Use line breaks for emphasis: If a character is delivering a more extended speech or monologue, you can use line breaks to guide the reader and make it visually appealing. However, it's generally best to keep dialogue concise and to the point.

Remember, proper punctuation and formatting of dialogue are essential for clarity and understanding. By using quotation marks correctly and organizing dialogue effectively, you can make your characters' conversations in your short story engaging and easy to follow.