Dialogue Grammar

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Mon Jul 11, 2005 7:18 am

Snoink says...

Dialogue Grammar

Memorize the following rules:

“That sucks,” he said.

“That sucks!” he said.

“Does that suck?” he said.

“That sucks,” he said, slapping his knee.

“That sucks!” he said, slapping his knee.

“Does that suck?” he said, tilting his head.

“That sucks.” He slapped his knee.

“That sucks!” He slapped his knee.

“Does that suck?” He tilted his head.

Anything which isn’t being said gets a new sentence. Anything which is being said is on the same sentence. Follow the same structure and you will be a happy writer.

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Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:15 pm

J. Wilder says...

I hope people pay attention to this...I've read so many things where people don't follow these rules and use stuff like "That sucks." He said.

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Mon Jul 11, 2005 10:09 pm

Rei says...

Oh yeah. When I read people writing like that, it's so annoying. It's a struggle to keep focused on the actual story. Sometimes I'll stop all together, depending on what kind of mood I'm in.

Please, sit down before you fall down.
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Mon Jul 11, 2005 10:35 pm

Crysi says...

Same here. It drives me absolutely crazy. I remember I was editing this one story for my friend and she did not know how to write dialogue correctly. Finally I gave up and wrote down the rules at the bottom of her paper, lol.

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Mon Jul 11, 2005 10:59 pm

Elizabeth says...

How do you punctuate something where there is an interjection then they continue to speak.

"That totally"- he scratched his cheek "that totally sucks"

like how to you punctuate that? I like to do that but since I don't know how to I can't.

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Mon Jul 11, 2005 11:17 pm

Snoink says...

The Black Rose wrote:How do you punctuate something where there is an interjection then they continue to speak.

"That totally"- he scratched his cheek "that totally sucks"

like how to you punctuate that? I like to do that but since I don't know how to I can't.

Well, technically you would not break that sentence up there. It's just awkward. However, you can get around it.

"That totally--" He stopped and scratched his cheek. "That totally sucks."

Remember, all punctuation must be inside the quotation. "'That totally'-" is not allowed.

Anyway, that's one way. There are dozens of other ways, however this sentence (That totally sucks) is not the correct one to demonstrate. That would sound much too awkward.

Elements of Style wrote:In dialogue, make sure that your attributives do not awkwardly interrupt a spoken sentence. Place them where the break would come naturally in speech--that is, where the speaker would pause for emphasis, or take a breath. The best test for locating an attributive is to speak the sentence aloud.

IS THIS:

"Now, my boy," he said, "we shall see how well you have learned your lesson."

NOT THIS:

"Now, my boy, we shall see," he said, "how well you have learned your lesson."

IS THIS:

What's more," he added, "they would never consent to the plan."

NOT THIS:

What's more, they would never," he added, "consent to the plan."

I hope that answers some questions.

Anyway, if you did want to break a sentence with a "he said" inside, then that's the way you do it.

Last edited by Snoink on Mon Jul 11, 2005 11:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Mon Jul 11, 2005 11:26 pm

Elizabeth says...

Ahh, ok that makes a bit more sense now thank you

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If it didn't turn into anything else.

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Mon Jul 11, 2005 11:46 pm

Griffinkeeper says...

I definitely need this.

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Mon Jul 25, 2005 7:17 am

Elelel says...

Ah! Nice to read that! I've been trying to work out all the rules from books I read. Whenever I get taught it in school, I don't get it completely. It's also nice to see I'd got most of them myself.

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Sun Sep 18, 2005 11:50 am

Emma says...

I needed to know that. THANKYOU!

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Sun Sep 18, 2005 7:16 pm

Rincewind says...

Boner

~The bandit’s body slumped to the ground, knees hitting first,followed by the rest.His dead weight pushed dust into the air in a swirling cloud.The blood flowed from his head,splicing like river canals,delaying slightly on pebbles before flowing on through the street.~