Ok, so...in the book "Wuthering Heights" and many other Classics, they wrote:
"I have waited here an hour," he said, while I continued staring; "and the whole of that time....etc.,"
So, my question is, why, when I also used the "semicolon," in the same manner, my editor told me that using a " ; " before a speech is not allowed???!!!!!
And also this (a technique often used by Georgette Heyer):
He put on his hat as he looked at her, saying: "What are you looking at?" (Of course, this isn't from her book though, just made it up.)
But the "colon" ( : ) is often used before a speech . . .and when I used it before, my editor told me it was NOT ALLOWED. Why is it that it was allowed in these books . .. but not allowed nowadays??? Is my editor just wrong, or.....has these grammar rules changed throughout the century??!!
2006-08-05
01:28:07
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12 answers
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asked by
J.Welkin
1
in
Books & Authors