1. Keven

    Keven New Member

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    Writing Questions

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by Keven, Jan 27, 2012.

    Reader,

    So I turned in an assignment (short story) for one of my classes and in it I wrote:

    "Where are you going, Sarr," asked Darrow?

    This is also how I have seen it in published novels (the structure not the exact sentence). However, my instructor said this:

    It should be: "Where are you going, Sarr?" asked Darrow.

    So which is right? Because I have never seen the second one in any novel I have read.

    Plus doesn't a "?" end a sentence so her example should be:

    "Where are you going, Sarr?" Asked Darrow.


    v/Respectfully,
    Keven


    EDIT

    Never mind found my grammar book.

    "Where are you going, Sarr?" asked Darrow.

    Is correct.
     
  2. CH878

    CH878 Active Member

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    Second is correct. Keep punctuation within the speech marks.
     
  3. THP

    THP New Member

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    The second is correct and if you look out for it I'm sure you will see it when reading in the future. Normally '?' and '!' do end a sentence, however this wasn't always the case. If you read old books, pre 1900, then you will find them used in the middle of sentences. A hang over of this is thier use in speech. The use of a '?' denotes a rising intonation, this is what we use in speech to denote a question. If you read your line out loud then you will notice that the rise is on 'Sarr', then falls for Darrow. With the '?' at the end of he sentence it would imply you were asking the reader is Darrow said this.
     
  4. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    if you've never seen the correct way in books you read, and you see it done the wrong way in the ones you read, then you're reading very poorly written books that i can't believe have been put out by reputable publishers... :rolleyes:

    seems to me you need to keep that grammar book of yours handy and study it more thoroughly... ;)
     
  5. shadowwalker

    shadowwalker Contributor Contributor

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    Precisely
     

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