Identify the sentence in which all punctuation marks are correctly placed:

Appeared in: GMCH - 2015

Explanation

This option correctly uses a comma to introduce the direct speech after the reporting verb 'said'.
It correctly places a question mark inside the closing quotation mark for the interrogative sentence "How are you?".
It correctly introduces the second speaker's dialogue with a new reporting clause.
It correctly places a period inside the closing quotation mark for the declarative sentence "I am fine.".

Option A: This option incorrectly uses a period instead of a question mark for the question "How are you?". It also fails to properly separate and quote the dialogue of the second speaker, Meena.
Option B: This option incorrectly uses a comma at the end of the question "How are you," and a question mark at the end of the statement "I am fine?". The punctuation is reversed for both parts of the dialogue.
Option D: This option incorrectly combines the speech of two different people into one set of quotation marks. It also incorrectly uses a period after the question "How are you.".

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Punctuation in Direct Speech as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While not a clinical skill, clear and accurate writing is crucial in nursing for documentation. Proper punctuation in patient charts, reports, and communication with colleagues prevents misinterpretation and ensures patient safety.
For example, a misplaced comma or period in a medication order or a patient's progress note could lead to serious errors in care.
What if? If a nurse wrote in a chart, 'Patient stated he feels fine no pain,' it could be ambiguous. Writing 'Patient stated, "I feel fine, no pain."' is a precise and legally sound record of the patient's words.

How to Approach the Question

First, understand the question is asking to identify the sentence with perfect punctuation for dialogue.
Recall the basic rules for punctuating direct speech: use of quotation marks, commas, capitalization, and placement of end punctuation.
Analyze each option one by one, checking for errors against these rules.
Option A: Note the incorrect period for a question and the improper handling of the second speaker.
Option B: Note the incorrect end punctuation for both the question and the statement.
Option D: Note the incorrect merging of two speakers' dialogue and the wrong end punctuation.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full GMCH - 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.