When do you use quotation marks, how many, and where? Forget the “rules” you were fed in school. Many options are available to suit the inventive writer.
Standard/Normal/Ho-hum maybe:
Double quote-dialog-double unquote — “What do you mean, choice?” you ask. (New paragraph) “You have options,” I say.
Standard/Normal/Ho-hum quote within a quote — “Someone will tell you ‘Listen to me,’ and you have to listen.’’
Standard/Normal/Ho-hum quote that is not dialog — The word you want is “choice”. (punctuation outside the mark)
British/Normal/Ho-hum:
Single quote-dialog-single unquote — ‘You Brits do it this way.’ (New paragraph) ‘Yes. Neah, neah, neah, U.S.’
Creative:
Eliminate quotation marks — What do you mean, choice? I'm suggesting options to you.
Creative:
(You decide how to handle dialog quotations. I’m waiting to hear your ideas.)
What the hell is a Grammar Anarchist? You can be one! Since we don’t have a U.S. language, feel FREE to set your own rules -- interpret grammar YOUR WAY. You’re not in England anymore. Join the anarchy of U.S. grammar! Make your choices and preserve them in YOUR STYLE MANUAL. —The Grammar Anarchist
Contact the Grammar Anarchist with your questions about grammar and language at grammaranarchist@gmail.com
Get a personal reply at Val@valdumond.com
Get a personal reply at Val@valdumond.com
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Friday, December 7, 2012
With E or Without
How do you spell — acknowledg ment? or judg ment? Do you stick an E in there to make the words: acknowledgement and judgement?
Uh-uh! That’s a dead giveaway that you’re with “them” (the Brits).
If you’re a true U.S.-er, omit the E. Otherwise the Grammar Anarchist will be after you.
Uh-uh! That’s a dead giveaway that you’re with “them” (the Brits).
If you’re a true U.S.-er, omit the E. Otherwise the Grammar Anarchist will be after you.
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