Слова автора после прямой речи часто отделяются тире.

Слова is nominative plural of слово. It is the grammatical subject of the sentence, so it appears in the nominative case.

The singular is слово = word
The plural is слова = words

Here, слова автора means the author's words or the words of the author.

Автора is the genitive singular of автор. In this sentence, it shows possession or association:

• слова автора = the author's words
• literally: words of the author

This is a very common Russian pattern:

• книга студента = the student's book
• дом брата = the brother's house

So автора answers the question whose words?

Because the preposition после always requires the genitive case.

So:

• прямая речь = direct speech, in the dictionary form
• after после, it becomes прямой речи

Both words change because the adjective must agree with the noun:

• прямая → прямой
• речь → речи

So:

• после прямой речи = after direct speech

It is genitive singular.

The basic form is:

• прямая речь

After после, it changes to:

• прямой речи

Breakdown:

• прямая is the feminine nominative singular form of the adjective
• прямой is the feminine genitive singular form
• речь is feminine nominative singular
• речи is feminine genitive singular

Отделяются is the 3rd person plural present tense form of отделяться.

It matches the plural subject слова, so the meaning is:

• the words are separated

The ending -ются shows:

• present tense
• plural
• reflexive/passive-style form

In sentences like this, Russian often uses a reflexive verb where English uses a passive:

• Слова отделяются тире = The words are separated by a dash

Russian very often uses -ся verbs to express something like an English passive, especially in general statements, rules, and descriptions.

So instead of saying something equivalent to are being separated with a formal passive participle, Russian naturally says:

• отделяются

This is normal and common in grammar explanations, instructions, and textbooks.

Тире is an indeclinable noun, so its form stays the same in all cases.

Even though the verb отделяться here implies the instrument or means, and English would say by a dash, Russian still uses the same form:

• тире

So the important point is:

• the case function is there
• but the word itself does not visibly change because тире is indeclinable

Because Russian often expresses the idea of by means of or with using the instrumental idea without needing a separate preposition in English-style wording.

Here, тире tells you what is used to separate the author's words:

• отделяются тире = are separated by a dash

This is a normal Russian pattern with verbs that describe separation, connection, filling, covering, and similar actions.

Часто means often, and it modifies the verb отделяются.

So the core structure is:

• Слова автора ... отделяются тире = The author's words ... are separated by a dash
• часто adds frequency: are often separated

In other words, it tells you how often this punctuation rule applies.

No, Russian word order is fairly flexible, although this version sounds natural and neutral for an explanation.

This sentence is organized clearly like this:

• Слова автора = subject
• после прямой речи = clarifying phrase
• часто отделяются тире = predicate

A different order is possible, for example:

• После прямой речи слова автора часто отделяются тире

That version may sound slightly more focused on after direct speech, but the meaning stays basically the same.

In Russian grammar terminology, слова автора means the part of a sentence that tells you who is speaking or comments on the speech.

For example, in something like:

• Я приду, — сказал он.

the words сказал он are the слова автора.

So in the sentence you were given, the idea is that when the author's words come after direct speech, they are often separated with a dash.

Not exactly. Прямая речь specifically means direct speech: someone’s exact words presented directly.

For example:

• Он сказал: Я устал. = He said: I am tired.

That is different from indirect speech:

• Он сказал, что устал. = He said that he was tired.

So прямая речь is a grammar term, not just any quotation in a broad sense.

Russian, like English, often uses the present tense for general facts, definitions, and rules.

So:

• отделяются = are separated

This does not mean it is happening right now only. It means this is the usual rule or standard practice. That is why the present tense is the natural choice here.