Does anyone have any tips or reference points for improving your punctuation, particularly within speech passages? Also, when to use semi colans instead of commas?
Thanks
Carlton

This is my standard stuff for punctuating dialogue:

1) When a different person begins to speak, you start a new paragraph, with an indent in the normal way. Make sure there's something to tell us who says it: usually a speech tag 'he said, 'she asked', he whispered', or an action (including someone thinking something). If you want to start the paragraph with that person doing something, and then speaking, that's fine. You don't need to start a new paragraph for the speech.

2) Punctuation goes INSIDE the speech marks. If the speech is followed by 'he said' or a similar speech tag, you end the speech with a comma so it forms part of a single sentence.

'Do have some coffee,' said John.

or 'Would you like some coffee?' asked Sally.

But if what follows is a separate sentence, then it needs a capital at the beginning.

'What on earth are you talking about?' She pulled on her coat and stood up.

If the speech tag is before the speech itself and together it all forms one sentence then the speech nonetheless starts with a capital letter:

John looked at her hopefully but all she said was, 'What on earth are you talking about?'

and the same when what precedes it is a standalone action, which ends with a full stop:

Sally got up and pulled on her coat. 'Don't talk to me like that!'

3) Thoughts, these days, don't get speech marks, though you'll find it in older copies of books. You should only put speech marks round something which is actually said aloud.

She wondered if he was actually thinking about leaving his wife. But how on earth can I ask him that, she thought. Instead, she said, 'Have some coffee.'

4) You can mix up action and speeches: you don't have to start a new paragraph every time someone opens their mouth, and it's sometimes helpful to keep us clear on who's speaking without actual speech tags, if their speech and their actions stay together. But you must start a new paragraph when the speaker changes.

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From the Penguin Guide to Punctuation (recommended, BTW)

A comma is used to join two grammatically separate sentences along with and, or, but, while and yet:

Denmark is joing the EU, and Sweden is expected to join shortly.

A semi-colon is used to join two grammatically separate sentences, which are related to each other if, and only if:

1) The sense of the sentences are more closely related than a full stop would suggest:

Denmark is joining the EU. Sweden is hosting the Winter Olympics

Denmark is joining the EU; Sweden does not choose to follow its neighbour.

2) there is no connecting word such as and, but, or therefore, which would mean that you should use a comma

Denmark is joining the EU; Sweden is expected to join shortly

3) it's not the situation where you should be using a colon (which divides a sentence from some kind of elaboration or amplification which needn't be a grammatically complete sentence.)

Denmark has many reasons for joining the EU: economic, social, political and historical.

Emma

Emma,
Thank you for your comprehensive help. It was just what I was looking for.
Many thanks
Carlton