A comma usually separates a direct quotation from a phrase identifying its source or speaker. If the quotation is a question or an exclamation and the identifying phrase follows the quotation, the
comma is replaced by a question mark or an exclamation point.

• She answered, "I'm afraid it's all we've got."
• "The comedy is over," he muttered.
• "How about another round?" Elaine piped up.
• "I suspect," said Mrs. Horowitz, "we haven't seen the last of her."
• "You can sink the lousy thing for all I care!" Trumbull shouted back.
• "And yet . . . [,]" she mused.
• "We can't get the door op—" Captain Hunt is heard shouting before the tape goes dead.

In some cases, a colon can replace a comma preceding a quotation.