Whats The Correct Way To Write This Sentence? I'm Not Sure About The Comma And/or Full Stop.

[2gbmum]

“I would” said the squirrel, gulping them down.
or
“I would.” said the squirrel, gulping them down.
or
“I would.” said the squirrel gulping them down.
or
“I would” said the squirrel gulping them down.

thanks!

[elliemay1]

“I would,” said the squirrel, gulping them down.

[jno]

None of the above.

"I would," said the squirrel, gulping them down.

[dannyk13]

Agree with Ellie.

[jno]

... snap

[sapelesam]

Ye Gods, a talking squirrel.

[Arksided]

Lol they talk all the time... maybe quiet when you're about.

[2gbmum]

"Many thanks," said the talking squirrel, waving at you all.

[Jackdaw33]

Perfect!

[sapelesam]

Bring back Mister Ed, he may be able to translate squirrel.

[jennyjoan]

For me it would be

"I would", said the squirrel, gulping them down.

[bhg481]

I agree with jj - comma after the quotes.

[hc4361]

Sorry, JJ, but that is wrong.

[Mamyalynne]

He (?) shouldn't gulp, he'll get wind.

[jennyjoan]

HC - I was always taught that when something is being said - it begins and ends with quotes then the comma.

I was a proof reader in my job but then again I have left work for 12 years now so things may be read differently.

[Arksided]

I thought comma after the quotes as well.

[jim360]

Punctuation "rules" have changed over time and aren't even consistent today, depending as they can on the style guide you are using.

Still, I'd agree with ellie's (and jno's, etc) answer.

[jno]

jj would be wrong in America, where commas always go inside the quotes. In Britain, not always; people disagree.

http://www.betterwritingskills.com/articles/quotation-marks.txt

[Jackdaw33]

If I remember correctly the only punctuation mark outside the quotes is a full stop. All others go before the last pair of quotes. Mind you, I'm going back 60 years.

[Arksided]

In this case though the squirrel isn't talking a pause to continue a sentence.

[Arksided]

*taking... even