Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Punctuation and Dialogue

This is topic Punctuation and Dialogue in forum Writing Class at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/writers/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=000032

Posted by hoptoad (Member # 2145) on :

What are the conventons for punctuating dialogue and its supporting text?

[This message has been edited by hoptoad (edited April 20, 2005).]

Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :

I'm sure someone will correct this, but as I understand it:

"Yada yada yada," dialogue tag. "Yada yada?"
"I was heading to the beach," he said. "Want to come?"

-or-

"Yada yada yada." Descriptive narration. "Yada yada."
"I was heading to the beach." He picked up a towel. "Want to come?"

Or some variation of the two. There are times, but very few, when the descriptive narration interupts a sentance and can be used with commas. Use with care.

"I was heading," he swallowed, "to the beach. Want to come?"

Posted by limo (Member # 2470) on :

Thank you that was helpful.
Just to be more interested in my own education, do all the yada's from different people go on different lines?
e.g
"Yada" ..... "Yada yada?"
"Yada" ....."Yada"

And what happens if you have descriptive passages linking the two yadas do these go on another line again?
e.g.
"yada"...."yada"....the moon was full
"yada yada"....and the sea was oulined etc

It is so nice to have someone who knows stuff to ask questions of....
yada yada
li

Posted by dpatridge (Member # 2208) on :

it is a common convention to make a new paragraph for each change in speaker. i do not think it is exactly a grammatical requirement, but it certainly makes it easier to read and is the least intrusive for the typical reader.

as for the second question... i'm not sure what you meant

Posted by HSO (Member # 2056) on :

There are few more things to consider...

The UK and OZ use single quotes for dialogue (though double quotes are also used, but you mainly see single quotes in printed works). And the keyboard layout in the UK places the double quotation mark just above the "2" key, right where it used to be in the old days on typewriters.

Therefore, using that convention you might see dialogue like this:

'Hello, Bill,' said Johan. 'You're looking smart in that suit.'

But what do you do when your character is speaking and quoting someone else? Well, you do this:

'I was talking with Bill yesterday and he said, "Stop commenting on my suit!" Of course, I probably do that too much.'

'What else did he say?' Frank said.

' "You're a git and go away," he said, but I don't know why he was so offended. He looked nice in his suit.'

(I added a space between the single and double quote so it's easier to see. In actuality, you can write it like this: '"You're a git..."'

There is also the matter of where to put punctuation -- inside or outside of the quotes. But I'll deal with that aspect later.

-HSO

Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :

It *is* in fact a grammar rule that you must have a pargraph break when someone new speaks.

Now, I imagine there are fudgable situations, but basically do it this way or you will come across as an amateur.

Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :

There is also the case where you have one speaker who is a little long-winded and speaks for more than one paragraph. To indicate this, do not close quotes at the end of the first paragraph; the second paragraph should still have opening quotes.

"Yada yada yada. Yada yada ya.

"Yada, yada. " dialogue tag.

"My trip really wasn't interesting. I'm surprised you asked.

"By the way, John and Jane are getting married," she said.

Then there are quotes within quotes.

"Yada yada yada, 'Yada yada yada.'" dialogue tag.

"I was there when Martin Luther King said, 'I have a dream.'" she explained.

For those following the UK conventions, the quotes are reversed.

'Yada yada yada, "Yada yada yada."' dialogue tag.