I'm writing a short story and I don't know what i'm supposed to do if I'm writing someone's thoughts. Do I put inverted commas around it or put it in itallics or what? I don't want readers to get confused between what people are actually saying and what they're thinking.
2007-03-02 18:39:00 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
Inverted commas are only for direct speech. Direct speech is something that has been actually spoken by someone, verbatim. So if they are thinking somethng, it wouldnt be direct speech.
Id suggest you go with italics. Actually, ive been meaning to look up the exact use of italics in formal written English, you just gave me the push. Thanks.... I think the idea is if you want something to stand out, it could probably be put in italics or single quotations.
The following article would really really help you. Please go through it
2007-03-02 18:48:48 · answer #1 · answered by Niv 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Different writers use different methods. Some more modern authors have done away with commas, etc. all together. If you're writing your story for a class, however, you should use one of the more conventional methods:
1) Put the thoughts in italics or
2) Put them in quotation marks, as if the character were speaking.
Either way, separate the thought with commas.
Hope that helps!
2007-03-03 02:54:32 · answer #2 · answered by kacey 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've been writing stories myself during college years but I'm more into essays. I've been using QUOTATION MARKS if the character is directly speaking to someone and a comma after it. With the thoughts, I also suggest the ITALICS form of writing. Maybe this could help you:
"C-can we talk?" he said hesitantly.
"I have nothing to say and I don't want to listen to you either," she gasped.
He looked sad. (I won't stop persuading you. Maybe this would let her stay even for a minute.)
He knelt and grab her hands. "I'm sorry," he begun, "I know that I was really wrong for doing such things."
I can't make it in italics, the one enclosed in parentheses is the THOUGHT.
2007-03-03 04:26:40 · answer #3 · answered by chie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Italics, and no inverted commas, is the usual form, but you could also use indicators such as: (<> = italics)
or maybe put it in parenthesis, e.g.
"Well of course I agree with you (
2007-03-03 02:58:24 · answer #4 · answered by Alazon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
simply write the italic words and put the commas
2007-03-03 02:43:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would do italics...i've read books where they put thoughts in italics. you could also hint before the thought that it is a thought by saying "she thought to herself..." that was a bad example
2007-03-03 02:42:11 · answer #6 · answered by Sarah 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋