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What is the correct way to write the 2 sentences below?

1st QUESTION:
After dialog, do you always have to say Michael said or said Michael or Michael implored, to indicate which character made the statement or can you leave it as I have below?

2nd QUESTION:
If you want to indicate a sound such as "BADoom…crack" in the middle of dialog, how do you write it? In quotes within the quote? In parenthesis, within the quote?

DIALOG:
“Listen to me. I will follow once you’re safe, (BADoom…crack) but I can’t do that if you don’t go NOW!” Seeing the look of stark terror in her eyes, Michael lowered his voice.

2007-01-11 05:41:26 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities Books & Authors

I'm editing a story for a friend and I'm not sure what is grammatically correct.

2007-01-11 05:49:16 · update #1

5 answers

How about this:

“Listen to me. I will follow once you’re safe"--[ital]BADoom…crack[end ital]--"but I can’t do that if you don’t go NOW!” Seeing the look of stark terror in her eyes, Michael lowered his voice.

It's pretty obvious who's doing the speaking (the guy lowering his voice). The idea, I think, is that the sound is interfering with the guy's speech, so why now use "interrupter" cues, such as dashes? However, if no speech follows, one has to wonder how Michael could lower his voice subsequently. This, I imagine, would be addressed by the following text, correct?

2007-01-11 07:03:22 · answer #1 · answered by Used_to_know 3 · 0 0

1. Each character, like real people, have a certain way they say things, certain words they use; these are called character dialog markers. A reader should be able to tell who is talking without a Michael said throughout the conversation, but it is still a good idea to use said in the beginning dialog and now and then as the story progresses.

2. I would engage sound like this: “Listen to me. I will follow once you’re safe"--BADoom…crack--"but I can’t do that if you don’t go NOW!” Seeing the look of stark terror in her eyes, Michael lowered his voice. (BTW, some editors are against using the ellipsis, which is primarily used in essay quotes in place of information.)

2007-01-11 07:15:49 · answer #2 · answered by Mad About Purple 5 · 0 0

This is more a matter of style than punctuation or grammar (note spelling). The placing of the "sound effect" in parentheses within the dialog seems altogether appropriate as it separates the effect from the dialog itself, yet effectively indicates its exact location as background noise.
I do not think you will find a hard and fast rule about this in any usage guide. It is surely not subject to any rule of grammar (note spelling).

2007-01-11 06:10:33 · answer #3 · answered by jerrold 3 · 0 0

Will your tale be in consumer-friendly words examine by way of human beings that txt? I txt yet do not use each of the shortcuts each of the time, it relies upon who i'm sending to. in case you write it in finished i don't believe of evidently out of position. perchance you are able to shorten before everything, with an total textual content in brackets. That way human beings will comprehend the way it become honestly written yet you're writing in finished for the target audience.

2016-12-29 03:30:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

y

2007-01-11 05:44:46 · answer #5 · answered by runescape player 2 · 0 0

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