Is a comma before indented dialogue correct?

Question

Is it ever proper to end a sentence with a comma before indented dialogue? Example:

...and whispered,

" Margot has waited so long for this."

Answer 1

put a comma before the quote

She said, "Margot has waited so long for this."

BUT you could use a comma, a colon or nothing. It all depends.

IF you're a writer, doing short stories, literature, poems, you go with the flow, what fits your narrative best, not what's "King's English"

But for more official English grammar and punctuation, it depends. Was the the nonquote introductory part an independent clause? was the quote a complete sentence? If it's not a complete sentence, generally no punctuation at all.