Hands down, the most common mistake I see in writing is in the way people use punctuation and capitalization in dialogue. As an editor, it bugs me. As a writer, I want to make sure my writing is as good as I can get it, and that includes proper punctuation. So in this post I'm going to outline the proper use of punctuation and capitalization in dialogue based on the mistakes I see most often. And to make it fun, I've used real-life quotes from things my family and friends have said.
Dialogue Tags
Incorrect: "I think Lady Luck is my arch enemy." Caleb said.
Correct: "I think Lady Luck is my arch enemy," Caleb said.
Incorrect: "I'll be right back," Mom said, "Don't let anything interesting happen while I'm gone!"
Correct: "I'll be right back," Mom said. "Don't let anything interesting happen while I'm gone!"
- or - "I'll be right back," Mom said, "don't let anything interesting happen while I'm gone!"
Incorrect: "What is that purple monstrosity on the ironing board," Caleb asked.
Incorrect: "What is that purple monstrosity on the ironing board," Caleb asked?
Correct: "What is that purple monstrosity on the ironing board?" Caleb asked.
Beats
Incorrect: LoriAnn peeked through the door, "It sounds like tribal chaos in there."
Correct: LoriAnn peeked through the door. "It sounds like tribal chaos in there."
Incorrect: "You can't plan these things, you have to be spontaneous," Dad raised an eyebrow, "I am a beacon of spontaneity."
Correct: "You can't plan these things, you have to be spontaneous." Dad raised an eyebrow. "I am a beacon of spontaneity."
Incorrect: "Never trust a man who wears a bow tie of his own free will," James shook a finger at me.
Correct: "Never trust a man who wears a bow tie of his own free will." James shook a finger at me.
More Beats, Breaks, and Pauses
Note: An em dash (—) signifies that someone has been interrupted, stopped speaking abruptly, or paused clearly mid-sentence. It can also be used to mark a break in the character's speaking to insert an action beat, as in the first example below. There should not be spaces between the em dash and the words before and after it. Ellipses (...) [only three dots, no more, no less] signify a less defined pause, or that someone has trailed off in their speaking.
Incorrect: "I know this is a very touching and teachable moment," —Katrina shook her head— "But it makes me laugh."
Correct: "I know this is a very touching and teachable moment—" Katrina shook her head. "—but it makes me laugh."
Incorrect: "My name has now been changed," Karri paused for effect... "to Kenneth Rogers."
Correct: "My name has now been changed..." Karri paused for effect. "...to Kenneth Rogers." (assuming a superhero persona at age 5)
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Do you struggle with dialogue punctuation?
Heehee. How about this one?
ReplyDeleteHeather stared at the watch. "Processing..."
LOL, Heather. I hadn't thought about that one in a while! I still remember the lesson we learned, though: never have a sleep-over the night before a work day!
ReplyDeleteI shall add one--though more of just a general punctuation deal than strictly for dialog. The punctuation ALWAYS, ALWAYS goes INSIDE the other markers.
ReplyDeleteIncorrect: Dogs are sort of "wiggly".
Correct: Dogs are sort of "wiggly."
Incorrect: He looked crazy (even if it was only three o'clock in the afternoon).
Correct: He looked crazy (even if it was only three o'clock in the afternoon.)
That one in quotations got me several points knocked off papers last semester. I was taught the British way, which says that unless the punctuation directly corresponds to whatever's inside the quote marks, like in dialog, it goes OUTSIDE. Well, that's the British way. And this is not Britain. So we do it the American way, which means that, even if the punctuation has nothing to do with the quotes, it still goes inside.
Just thought I'd throw that out there.
Well... apparently I was taught the British way as well. My, don't I feel prim and haughty now!
ReplyDelete