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The difference between dialogue marks
The 2019 Stack Overflow Developer Survey Results Are InStriking the balance between dialogue and narrativeWhat is the difference between “creative writing” and “fiction writing”?Which one is the correct dialogue punctuation format?How to correctly punctuate this dialogue?Using colons and semi-colons in dialogueUsing comma splices in dialogueWhen dialog is italicized, should the quotation marks be italicized as well?Punctuation issue quoting dialoguePunctuation when using inline dialogueIs it okay to use a lot of exclamation marks?
Most authors use dialogue in writing, especially when writing fiction. Now, if I remember my first grade primary school correctly, dialogue can be directly separated from narration in a number of ways.
Either quotation marks,
"Murder," she said.
dashes,
-Murder,- she said.
or angle brackets / angle carets / Guillemets:
«Murder,» she said.
I'm a personal fan of the last example and I dislike using quotation marks for dialogue, but that's just my personal opinion. What I'm wondering here is if, from a typographic standpoint, there are reasons to prefer one over the other when reporting dialogue.
This is limited to the scope of creative writing mainly, since non-creative (e.g. technical) writing usually has stricter rules.
creative-writing dialogue punctuation
add a comment |
Most authors use dialogue in writing, especially when writing fiction. Now, if I remember my first grade primary school correctly, dialogue can be directly separated from narration in a number of ways.
Either quotation marks,
"Murder," she said.
dashes,
-Murder,- she said.
or angle brackets / angle carets / Guillemets:
«Murder,» she said.
I'm a personal fan of the last example and I dislike using quotation marks for dialogue, but that's just my personal opinion. What I'm wondering here is if, from a typographic standpoint, there are reasons to prefer one over the other when reporting dialogue.
This is limited to the scope of creative writing mainly, since non-creative (e.g. technical) writing usually has stricter rules.
creative-writing dialogue punctuation
4
What you have there are different cultural conventions. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quotation_mark#Specific_language_features
– Luba
7 hours ago
1
@Luba this should probably be edited into an answer or listed as a new answer, because this is the right one.
– Blue Caboose
4 hours ago
add a comment |
Most authors use dialogue in writing, especially when writing fiction. Now, if I remember my first grade primary school correctly, dialogue can be directly separated from narration in a number of ways.
Either quotation marks,
"Murder," she said.
dashes,
-Murder,- she said.
or angle brackets / angle carets / Guillemets:
«Murder,» she said.
I'm a personal fan of the last example and I dislike using quotation marks for dialogue, but that's just my personal opinion. What I'm wondering here is if, from a typographic standpoint, there are reasons to prefer one over the other when reporting dialogue.
This is limited to the scope of creative writing mainly, since non-creative (e.g. technical) writing usually has stricter rules.
creative-writing dialogue punctuation
Most authors use dialogue in writing, especially when writing fiction. Now, if I remember my first grade primary school correctly, dialogue can be directly separated from narration in a number of ways.
Either quotation marks,
"Murder," she said.
dashes,
-Murder,- she said.
or angle brackets / angle carets / Guillemets:
«Murder,» she said.
I'm a personal fan of the last example and I dislike using quotation marks for dialogue, but that's just my personal opinion. What I'm wondering here is if, from a typographic standpoint, there are reasons to prefer one over the other when reporting dialogue.
This is limited to the scope of creative writing mainly, since non-creative (e.g. technical) writing usually has stricter rules.
creative-writing dialogue punctuation
creative-writing dialogue punctuation
edited 11 hours ago
weakdna
3,53242363
3,53242363
asked 16 hours ago
LiquidLiquid
8,68622072
8,68622072
4
What you have there are different cultural conventions. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quotation_mark#Specific_language_features
– Luba
7 hours ago
1
@Luba this should probably be edited into an answer or listed as a new answer, because this is the right one.
– Blue Caboose
4 hours ago
add a comment |
4
What you have there are different cultural conventions. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quotation_mark#Specific_language_features
– Luba
7 hours ago
1
@Luba this should probably be edited into an answer or listed as a new answer, because this is the right one.
– Blue Caboose
4 hours ago
4
4
What you have there are different cultural conventions. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quotation_mark#Specific_language_features
– Luba
7 hours ago
What you have there are different cultural conventions. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quotation_mark#Specific_language_features
– Luba
7 hours ago
1
1
@Luba this should probably be edited into an answer or listed as a new answer, because this is the right one.
– Blue Caboose
4 hours ago
@Luba this should probably be edited into an answer or listed as a new answer, because this is the right one.
– Blue Caboose
4 hours ago
add a comment |
7 Answers
7
active
oldest
votes
I think this is dependent on the convention in the country or location where you are publishing. In the U.S., it's double quotes, but in Britain, it's single quotes. I believe France and Italy use guillemets. I've seen the dashes but I don't recall where they are used.
The upshot is that, as JonStonecash wisely said, use whatever will be expected by and invisible to your readers.
2
I can say Poland uses em-dashes.
– SF.
14 hours ago
1
indeed french novels I've read have used guillements
– BKlassen
10 hours ago
1
In Brazil the dialog is written with the dash. However the double quotes are gaining popularity as lazy translators use lazy software that cares only for textual content and not typography to make their translations. The norm, however is to use dashes. cobra.pages.nom.br/ctp-tec-tracoetravessao.html
– Mindwin
8 hours ago
Please don't perpetuate the myth that British English uses single quotes. It's not a hard and fast rule by any means.
– Andrew Leach
2 hours ago
add a comment |
As a retired engineer, I habitually focus on the end result. While all of the choices are valid, I suspect that most readers will find all but the traditional double quotes to be jarring. If that is the result you are seeking, go for it. If you want the mechanics of dialogue to disappear then I would stick to said, asked, and double quotes.
An exception might be in order if there are more than one means to convey dialogue, such as telepathy or some special communication channel. If it is important to the story, you might use one of the alternate approaches to signify the difference.
Albert Einstein said, "Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler." My point is that you should use whatever is needed to tell your story. And, if it is not needed, don't use it.
10
+1. If I saw angle brackets or dashes used for ordinary dialogue, I'd stop and go back over the last couple of pages, because I'd assume I missed the part where the characters are telepathic/wearing headsets/texting/whatever.
– Evil Sparrow
8 hours ago
add a comment |
There are two other common options.
Italics.
Murder, she said.
And nothing at all.
Murder, she said.
Or more likely set up as narration.
She said murder.
I prefer anything to the nothing option. I honestly don't know what goes through an author's head choosing that. Do they think readers enjoy not being sure if a character is speaking or thinking or if the narrator is talking?
As an American reading in English, my preference for the other options is clear: double quote marks. Specifically, curly quotes (straight quotes, like you see in this post, are fine for online reading, but for a book, they need to be curly).
Italics is gimmicky for speech, though readable. I'd rather see them saved for character thoughts and other unspoken utterances.
Your other examples may be the preference in other countries that use English or in other languages. If that's the case in the language/country you're writing in, use them. None of them would make for seamless reading in the U.S.
Your typographic goal is to make the marks invisible and glaringly obvious at the same time. Just like "she said" is. There's no doubt who said it but you barely notice. Dialogue marks should be the same way. Your eye should glide across the page not even paying attention to punctuation, yet you know without a doubt which words were spoken out loud.
add a comment |
As JonStoneCash has said, the other choices would be jarring. I know that I expect quotation marks to indicate spoken dialogue.
While all are sound, the traditional quotation marks have the weight and benefit of tradition, rendering them invisible.
It is your book, but if you want readers to enjoy it, allow for the possibility that the punctuation you select can disturb immersion, if only briefly.
Quotation marks are so commonly used that the use of the others might make a reader pause and then go on - ah, yes, dialogue.
add a comment |
The convention in English is to use double quotes, or occasionally, single quotes. Anything else if jarring and confusing. I don't know what first grade teacher said that hyphens or angle brackets are a routine way to identify quotes. If this was a teacher of the English language, he was just what I like to call "wrong".
You might use some other notation for special cases. Like if you're writing a science fiction novel and you need some way to set off the aliens' non-verbal communication or the telephathic links or some such.
You can, of course, always break the conventions. But have a reason to do it, not just because you prefer some alternate convention. As for any writing rule, if the rule gets in the way of the story, sure, break it. But don't break rules just because you feel like it.
But for normal human speech, use quotes. Anything else, readers will have to figure out that you're using this other symbol instead of quotes for no apparent reason, and it will be continually jarring.
add a comment |
In simple prose in English use inverted commas “ ” or ‘ ’ It is a matter of preference which to use. Double quote marks are unlikely to be confused with apostrophes, but single quotes are shorter and less intrusive.
Paragraphing properly is also important. Each change of speaker requires a new paragraph, even if they only say one word.
Some authors dislike standard quotation marks. James Joyce (Ulysses) never used inverted commas, and hated that some editors "corrected" his manuscript to include them. He began each quote with an em dash at the start of a line and ended the quote by context or a paragraph break.
Buck Mulligan peeped an instant under the mirror then covered the bowl smartly.
— Back to barracks, he said smartly.
He added in a preacher's tone:
— For this, O dearly beloved is the genuine Christine [...]
Guillemets are not used in standard English, nor are the various conventions of double commas found in German, Polish and some other languages. „Guten Tag!“
add a comment |
I haven't heard of or seen dashes or brackets being used to indicate dialogue. Primary teachers make up a lot of things, for example that you can't begin sentences with 'because'. It is because they have to simplify things.
Because they have to simplify things, primary teachers make up a lot of things. FTFY
– CDspace
5 hours ago
add a comment |
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7 Answers
7
active
oldest
votes
7 Answers
7
active
oldest
votes
active
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active
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votes
I think this is dependent on the convention in the country or location where you are publishing. In the U.S., it's double quotes, but in Britain, it's single quotes. I believe France and Italy use guillemets. I've seen the dashes but I don't recall where they are used.
The upshot is that, as JonStonecash wisely said, use whatever will be expected by and invisible to your readers.
2
I can say Poland uses em-dashes.
– SF.
14 hours ago
1
indeed french novels I've read have used guillements
– BKlassen
10 hours ago
1
In Brazil the dialog is written with the dash. However the double quotes are gaining popularity as lazy translators use lazy software that cares only for textual content and not typography to make their translations. The norm, however is to use dashes. cobra.pages.nom.br/ctp-tec-tracoetravessao.html
– Mindwin
8 hours ago
Please don't perpetuate the myth that British English uses single quotes. It's not a hard and fast rule by any means.
– Andrew Leach
2 hours ago
add a comment |
I think this is dependent on the convention in the country or location where you are publishing. In the U.S., it's double quotes, but in Britain, it's single quotes. I believe France and Italy use guillemets. I've seen the dashes but I don't recall where they are used.
The upshot is that, as JonStonecash wisely said, use whatever will be expected by and invisible to your readers.
2
I can say Poland uses em-dashes.
– SF.
14 hours ago
1
indeed french novels I've read have used guillements
– BKlassen
10 hours ago
1
In Brazil the dialog is written with the dash. However the double quotes are gaining popularity as lazy translators use lazy software that cares only for textual content and not typography to make their translations. The norm, however is to use dashes. cobra.pages.nom.br/ctp-tec-tracoetravessao.html
– Mindwin
8 hours ago
Please don't perpetuate the myth that British English uses single quotes. It's not a hard and fast rule by any means.
– Andrew Leach
2 hours ago
add a comment |
I think this is dependent on the convention in the country or location where you are publishing. In the U.S., it's double quotes, but in Britain, it's single quotes. I believe France and Italy use guillemets. I've seen the dashes but I don't recall where they are used.
The upshot is that, as JonStonecash wisely said, use whatever will be expected by and invisible to your readers.
I think this is dependent on the convention in the country or location where you are publishing. In the U.S., it's double quotes, but in Britain, it's single quotes. I believe France and Italy use guillemets. I've seen the dashes but I don't recall where they are used.
The upshot is that, as JonStonecash wisely said, use whatever will be expected by and invisible to your readers.
answered 14 hours ago
Lauren IpsumLauren Ipsum
67.3k699222
67.3k699222
2
I can say Poland uses em-dashes.
– SF.
14 hours ago
1
indeed french novels I've read have used guillements
– BKlassen
10 hours ago
1
In Brazil the dialog is written with the dash. However the double quotes are gaining popularity as lazy translators use lazy software that cares only for textual content and not typography to make their translations. The norm, however is to use dashes. cobra.pages.nom.br/ctp-tec-tracoetravessao.html
– Mindwin
8 hours ago
Please don't perpetuate the myth that British English uses single quotes. It's not a hard and fast rule by any means.
– Andrew Leach
2 hours ago
add a comment |
2
I can say Poland uses em-dashes.
– SF.
14 hours ago
1
indeed french novels I've read have used guillements
– BKlassen
10 hours ago
1
In Brazil the dialog is written with the dash. However the double quotes are gaining popularity as lazy translators use lazy software that cares only for textual content and not typography to make their translations. The norm, however is to use dashes. cobra.pages.nom.br/ctp-tec-tracoetravessao.html
– Mindwin
8 hours ago
Please don't perpetuate the myth that British English uses single quotes. It's not a hard and fast rule by any means.
– Andrew Leach
2 hours ago
2
2
I can say Poland uses em-dashes.
– SF.
14 hours ago
I can say Poland uses em-dashes.
– SF.
14 hours ago
1
1
indeed french novels I've read have used guillements
– BKlassen
10 hours ago
indeed french novels I've read have used guillements
– BKlassen
10 hours ago
1
1
In Brazil the dialog is written with the dash. However the double quotes are gaining popularity as lazy translators use lazy software that cares only for textual content and not typography to make their translations. The norm, however is to use dashes. cobra.pages.nom.br/ctp-tec-tracoetravessao.html
– Mindwin
8 hours ago
In Brazil the dialog is written with the dash. However the double quotes are gaining popularity as lazy translators use lazy software that cares only for textual content and not typography to make their translations. The norm, however is to use dashes. cobra.pages.nom.br/ctp-tec-tracoetravessao.html
– Mindwin
8 hours ago
Please don't perpetuate the myth that British English uses single quotes. It's not a hard and fast rule by any means.
– Andrew Leach
2 hours ago
Please don't perpetuate the myth that British English uses single quotes. It's not a hard and fast rule by any means.
– Andrew Leach
2 hours ago
add a comment |
As a retired engineer, I habitually focus on the end result. While all of the choices are valid, I suspect that most readers will find all but the traditional double quotes to be jarring. If that is the result you are seeking, go for it. If you want the mechanics of dialogue to disappear then I would stick to said, asked, and double quotes.
An exception might be in order if there are more than one means to convey dialogue, such as telepathy or some special communication channel. If it is important to the story, you might use one of the alternate approaches to signify the difference.
Albert Einstein said, "Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler." My point is that you should use whatever is needed to tell your story. And, if it is not needed, don't use it.
10
+1. If I saw angle brackets or dashes used for ordinary dialogue, I'd stop and go back over the last couple of pages, because I'd assume I missed the part where the characters are telepathic/wearing headsets/texting/whatever.
– Evil Sparrow
8 hours ago
add a comment |
As a retired engineer, I habitually focus on the end result. While all of the choices are valid, I suspect that most readers will find all but the traditional double quotes to be jarring. If that is the result you are seeking, go for it. If you want the mechanics of dialogue to disappear then I would stick to said, asked, and double quotes.
An exception might be in order if there are more than one means to convey dialogue, such as telepathy or some special communication channel. If it is important to the story, you might use one of the alternate approaches to signify the difference.
Albert Einstein said, "Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler." My point is that you should use whatever is needed to tell your story. And, if it is not needed, don't use it.
10
+1. If I saw angle brackets or dashes used for ordinary dialogue, I'd stop and go back over the last couple of pages, because I'd assume I missed the part where the characters are telepathic/wearing headsets/texting/whatever.
– Evil Sparrow
8 hours ago
add a comment |
As a retired engineer, I habitually focus on the end result. While all of the choices are valid, I suspect that most readers will find all but the traditional double quotes to be jarring. If that is the result you are seeking, go for it. If you want the mechanics of dialogue to disappear then I would stick to said, asked, and double quotes.
An exception might be in order if there are more than one means to convey dialogue, such as telepathy or some special communication channel. If it is important to the story, you might use one of the alternate approaches to signify the difference.
Albert Einstein said, "Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler." My point is that you should use whatever is needed to tell your story. And, if it is not needed, don't use it.
As a retired engineer, I habitually focus on the end result. While all of the choices are valid, I suspect that most readers will find all but the traditional double quotes to be jarring. If that is the result you are seeking, go for it. If you want the mechanics of dialogue to disappear then I would stick to said, asked, and double quotes.
An exception might be in order if there are more than one means to convey dialogue, such as telepathy or some special communication channel. If it is important to the story, you might use one of the alternate approaches to signify the difference.
Albert Einstein said, "Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler." My point is that you should use whatever is needed to tell your story. And, if it is not needed, don't use it.
answered 14 hours ago
JonStonecashJonStonecash
46424
46424
10
+1. If I saw angle brackets or dashes used for ordinary dialogue, I'd stop and go back over the last couple of pages, because I'd assume I missed the part where the characters are telepathic/wearing headsets/texting/whatever.
– Evil Sparrow
8 hours ago
add a comment |
10
+1. If I saw angle brackets or dashes used for ordinary dialogue, I'd stop and go back over the last couple of pages, because I'd assume I missed the part where the characters are telepathic/wearing headsets/texting/whatever.
– Evil Sparrow
8 hours ago
10
10
+1. If I saw angle brackets or dashes used for ordinary dialogue, I'd stop and go back over the last couple of pages, because I'd assume I missed the part where the characters are telepathic/wearing headsets/texting/whatever.
– Evil Sparrow
8 hours ago
+1. If I saw angle brackets or dashes used for ordinary dialogue, I'd stop and go back over the last couple of pages, because I'd assume I missed the part where the characters are telepathic/wearing headsets/texting/whatever.
– Evil Sparrow
8 hours ago
add a comment |
There are two other common options.
Italics.
Murder, she said.
And nothing at all.
Murder, she said.
Or more likely set up as narration.
She said murder.
I prefer anything to the nothing option. I honestly don't know what goes through an author's head choosing that. Do they think readers enjoy not being sure if a character is speaking or thinking or if the narrator is talking?
As an American reading in English, my preference for the other options is clear: double quote marks. Specifically, curly quotes (straight quotes, like you see in this post, are fine for online reading, but for a book, they need to be curly).
Italics is gimmicky for speech, though readable. I'd rather see them saved for character thoughts and other unspoken utterances.
Your other examples may be the preference in other countries that use English or in other languages. If that's the case in the language/country you're writing in, use them. None of them would make for seamless reading in the U.S.
Your typographic goal is to make the marks invisible and glaringly obvious at the same time. Just like "she said" is. There's no doubt who said it but you barely notice. Dialogue marks should be the same way. Your eye should glide across the page not even paying attention to punctuation, yet you know without a doubt which words were spoken out loud.
add a comment |
There are two other common options.
Italics.
Murder, she said.
And nothing at all.
Murder, she said.
Or more likely set up as narration.
She said murder.
I prefer anything to the nothing option. I honestly don't know what goes through an author's head choosing that. Do they think readers enjoy not being sure if a character is speaking or thinking or if the narrator is talking?
As an American reading in English, my preference for the other options is clear: double quote marks. Specifically, curly quotes (straight quotes, like you see in this post, are fine for online reading, but for a book, they need to be curly).
Italics is gimmicky for speech, though readable. I'd rather see them saved for character thoughts and other unspoken utterances.
Your other examples may be the preference in other countries that use English or in other languages. If that's the case in the language/country you're writing in, use them. None of them would make for seamless reading in the U.S.
Your typographic goal is to make the marks invisible and glaringly obvious at the same time. Just like "she said" is. There's no doubt who said it but you barely notice. Dialogue marks should be the same way. Your eye should glide across the page not even paying attention to punctuation, yet you know without a doubt which words were spoken out loud.
add a comment |
There are two other common options.
Italics.
Murder, she said.
And nothing at all.
Murder, she said.
Or more likely set up as narration.
She said murder.
I prefer anything to the nothing option. I honestly don't know what goes through an author's head choosing that. Do they think readers enjoy not being sure if a character is speaking or thinking or if the narrator is talking?
As an American reading in English, my preference for the other options is clear: double quote marks. Specifically, curly quotes (straight quotes, like you see in this post, are fine for online reading, but for a book, they need to be curly).
Italics is gimmicky for speech, though readable. I'd rather see them saved for character thoughts and other unspoken utterances.
Your other examples may be the preference in other countries that use English or in other languages. If that's the case in the language/country you're writing in, use them. None of them would make for seamless reading in the U.S.
Your typographic goal is to make the marks invisible and glaringly obvious at the same time. Just like "she said" is. There's no doubt who said it but you barely notice. Dialogue marks should be the same way. Your eye should glide across the page not even paying attention to punctuation, yet you know without a doubt which words were spoken out loud.
There are two other common options.
Italics.
Murder, she said.
And nothing at all.
Murder, she said.
Or more likely set up as narration.
She said murder.
I prefer anything to the nothing option. I honestly don't know what goes through an author's head choosing that. Do they think readers enjoy not being sure if a character is speaking or thinking or if the narrator is talking?
As an American reading in English, my preference for the other options is clear: double quote marks. Specifically, curly quotes (straight quotes, like you see in this post, are fine for online reading, but for a book, they need to be curly).
Italics is gimmicky for speech, though readable. I'd rather see them saved for character thoughts and other unspoken utterances.
Your other examples may be the preference in other countries that use English or in other languages. If that's the case in the language/country you're writing in, use them. None of them would make for seamless reading in the U.S.
Your typographic goal is to make the marks invisible and glaringly obvious at the same time. Just like "she said" is. There's no doubt who said it but you barely notice. Dialogue marks should be the same way. Your eye should glide across the page not even paying attention to punctuation, yet you know without a doubt which words were spoken out loud.
answered 11 hours ago
CynCyn
17.8k13883
17.8k13883
add a comment |
add a comment |
As JonStoneCash has said, the other choices would be jarring. I know that I expect quotation marks to indicate spoken dialogue.
While all are sound, the traditional quotation marks have the weight and benefit of tradition, rendering them invisible.
It is your book, but if you want readers to enjoy it, allow for the possibility that the punctuation you select can disturb immersion, if only briefly.
Quotation marks are so commonly used that the use of the others might make a reader pause and then go on - ah, yes, dialogue.
add a comment |
As JonStoneCash has said, the other choices would be jarring. I know that I expect quotation marks to indicate spoken dialogue.
While all are sound, the traditional quotation marks have the weight and benefit of tradition, rendering them invisible.
It is your book, but if you want readers to enjoy it, allow for the possibility that the punctuation you select can disturb immersion, if only briefly.
Quotation marks are so commonly used that the use of the others might make a reader pause and then go on - ah, yes, dialogue.
add a comment |
As JonStoneCash has said, the other choices would be jarring. I know that I expect quotation marks to indicate spoken dialogue.
While all are sound, the traditional quotation marks have the weight and benefit of tradition, rendering them invisible.
It is your book, but if you want readers to enjoy it, allow for the possibility that the punctuation you select can disturb immersion, if only briefly.
Quotation marks are so commonly used that the use of the others might make a reader pause and then go on - ah, yes, dialogue.
As JonStoneCash has said, the other choices would be jarring. I know that I expect quotation marks to indicate spoken dialogue.
While all are sound, the traditional quotation marks have the weight and benefit of tradition, rendering them invisible.
It is your book, but if you want readers to enjoy it, allow for the possibility that the punctuation you select can disturb immersion, if only briefly.
Quotation marks are so commonly used that the use of the others might make a reader pause and then go on - ah, yes, dialogue.
answered 11 hours ago
RasdashanRasdashan
9,75311160
9,75311160
add a comment |
add a comment |
The convention in English is to use double quotes, or occasionally, single quotes. Anything else if jarring and confusing. I don't know what first grade teacher said that hyphens or angle brackets are a routine way to identify quotes. If this was a teacher of the English language, he was just what I like to call "wrong".
You might use some other notation for special cases. Like if you're writing a science fiction novel and you need some way to set off the aliens' non-verbal communication or the telephathic links or some such.
You can, of course, always break the conventions. But have a reason to do it, not just because you prefer some alternate convention. As for any writing rule, if the rule gets in the way of the story, sure, break it. But don't break rules just because you feel like it.
But for normal human speech, use quotes. Anything else, readers will have to figure out that you're using this other symbol instead of quotes for no apparent reason, and it will be continually jarring.
add a comment |
The convention in English is to use double quotes, or occasionally, single quotes. Anything else if jarring and confusing. I don't know what first grade teacher said that hyphens or angle brackets are a routine way to identify quotes. If this was a teacher of the English language, he was just what I like to call "wrong".
You might use some other notation for special cases. Like if you're writing a science fiction novel and you need some way to set off the aliens' non-verbal communication or the telephathic links or some such.
You can, of course, always break the conventions. But have a reason to do it, not just because you prefer some alternate convention. As for any writing rule, if the rule gets in the way of the story, sure, break it. But don't break rules just because you feel like it.
But for normal human speech, use quotes. Anything else, readers will have to figure out that you're using this other symbol instead of quotes for no apparent reason, and it will be continually jarring.
add a comment |
The convention in English is to use double quotes, or occasionally, single quotes. Anything else if jarring and confusing. I don't know what first grade teacher said that hyphens or angle brackets are a routine way to identify quotes. If this was a teacher of the English language, he was just what I like to call "wrong".
You might use some other notation for special cases. Like if you're writing a science fiction novel and you need some way to set off the aliens' non-verbal communication or the telephathic links or some such.
You can, of course, always break the conventions. But have a reason to do it, not just because you prefer some alternate convention. As for any writing rule, if the rule gets in the way of the story, sure, break it. But don't break rules just because you feel like it.
But for normal human speech, use quotes. Anything else, readers will have to figure out that you're using this other symbol instead of quotes for no apparent reason, and it will be continually jarring.
The convention in English is to use double quotes, or occasionally, single quotes. Anything else if jarring and confusing. I don't know what first grade teacher said that hyphens or angle brackets are a routine way to identify quotes. If this was a teacher of the English language, he was just what I like to call "wrong".
You might use some other notation for special cases. Like if you're writing a science fiction novel and you need some way to set off the aliens' non-verbal communication or the telephathic links or some such.
You can, of course, always break the conventions. But have a reason to do it, not just because you prefer some alternate convention. As for any writing rule, if the rule gets in the way of the story, sure, break it. But don't break rules just because you feel like it.
But for normal human speech, use quotes. Anything else, readers will have to figure out that you're using this other symbol instead of quotes for no apparent reason, and it will be continually jarring.
answered 9 hours ago
JayJay
20.1k1654
20.1k1654
add a comment |
add a comment |
In simple prose in English use inverted commas “ ” or ‘ ’ It is a matter of preference which to use. Double quote marks are unlikely to be confused with apostrophes, but single quotes are shorter and less intrusive.
Paragraphing properly is also important. Each change of speaker requires a new paragraph, even if they only say one word.
Some authors dislike standard quotation marks. James Joyce (Ulysses) never used inverted commas, and hated that some editors "corrected" his manuscript to include them. He began each quote with an em dash at the start of a line and ended the quote by context or a paragraph break.
Buck Mulligan peeped an instant under the mirror then covered the bowl smartly.
— Back to barracks, he said smartly.
He added in a preacher's tone:
— For this, O dearly beloved is the genuine Christine [...]
Guillemets are not used in standard English, nor are the various conventions of double commas found in German, Polish and some other languages. „Guten Tag!“
add a comment |
In simple prose in English use inverted commas “ ” or ‘ ’ It is a matter of preference which to use. Double quote marks are unlikely to be confused with apostrophes, but single quotes are shorter and less intrusive.
Paragraphing properly is also important. Each change of speaker requires a new paragraph, even if they only say one word.
Some authors dislike standard quotation marks. James Joyce (Ulysses) never used inverted commas, and hated that some editors "corrected" his manuscript to include them. He began each quote with an em dash at the start of a line and ended the quote by context or a paragraph break.
Buck Mulligan peeped an instant under the mirror then covered the bowl smartly.
— Back to barracks, he said smartly.
He added in a preacher's tone:
— For this, O dearly beloved is the genuine Christine [...]
Guillemets are not used in standard English, nor are the various conventions of double commas found in German, Polish and some other languages. „Guten Tag!“
add a comment |
In simple prose in English use inverted commas “ ” or ‘ ’ It is a matter of preference which to use. Double quote marks are unlikely to be confused with apostrophes, but single quotes are shorter and less intrusive.
Paragraphing properly is also important. Each change of speaker requires a new paragraph, even if they only say one word.
Some authors dislike standard quotation marks. James Joyce (Ulysses) never used inverted commas, and hated that some editors "corrected" his manuscript to include them. He began each quote with an em dash at the start of a line and ended the quote by context or a paragraph break.
Buck Mulligan peeped an instant under the mirror then covered the bowl smartly.
— Back to barracks, he said smartly.
He added in a preacher's tone:
— For this, O dearly beloved is the genuine Christine [...]
Guillemets are not used in standard English, nor are the various conventions of double commas found in German, Polish and some other languages. „Guten Tag!“
In simple prose in English use inverted commas “ ” or ‘ ’ It is a matter of preference which to use. Double quote marks are unlikely to be confused with apostrophes, but single quotes are shorter and less intrusive.
Paragraphing properly is also important. Each change of speaker requires a new paragraph, even if they only say one word.
Some authors dislike standard quotation marks. James Joyce (Ulysses) never used inverted commas, and hated that some editors "corrected" his manuscript to include them. He began each quote with an em dash at the start of a line and ended the quote by context or a paragraph break.
Buck Mulligan peeped an instant under the mirror then covered the bowl smartly.
— Back to barracks, he said smartly.
He added in a preacher's tone:
— For this, O dearly beloved is the genuine Christine [...]
Guillemets are not used in standard English, nor are the various conventions of double commas found in German, Polish and some other languages. „Guten Tag!“
answered 5 hours ago
James KJames K
1506
1506
add a comment |
add a comment |
I haven't heard of or seen dashes or brackets being used to indicate dialogue. Primary teachers make up a lot of things, for example that you can't begin sentences with 'because'. It is because they have to simplify things.
Because they have to simplify things, primary teachers make up a lot of things. FTFY
– CDspace
5 hours ago
add a comment |
I haven't heard of or seen dashes or brackets being used to indicate dialogue. Primary teachers make up a lot of things, for example that you can't begin sentences with 'because'. It is because they have to simplify things.
Because they have to simplify things, primary teachers make up a lot of things. FTFY
– CDspace
5 hours ago
add a comment |
I haven't heard of or seen dashes or brackets being used to indicate dialogue. Primary teachers make up a lot of things, for example that you can't begin sentences with 'because'. It is because they have to simplify things.
I haven't heard of or seen dashes or brackets being used to indicate dialogue. Primary teachers make up a lot of things, for example that you can't begin sentences with 'because'. It is because they have to simplify things.
answered 14 hours ago
S. MitchellS. Mitchell
5,04811026
5,04811026
Because they have to simplify things, primary teachers make up a lot of things. FTFY
– CDspace
5 hours ago
add a comment |
Because they have to simplify things, primary teachers make up a lot of things. FTFY
– CDspace
5 hours ago
Because they have to simplify things, primary teachers make up a lot of things. FTFY
– CDspace
5 hours ago
Because they have to simplify things, primary teachers make up a lot of things. FTFY
– CDspace
5 hours ago
add a comment |
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What you have there are different cultural conventions. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quotation_mark#Specific_language_features
– Luba
7 hours ago
1
@Luba this should probably be edited into an answer or listed as a new answer, because this is the right one.
– Blue Caboose
4 hours ago