1. LMThomas

    LMThomas Member

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    Help with a line

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by LMThomas, Feb 29, 2016.

    How would this line work:

    Sarah said “Yes,” and Colin nodded.

    Is that grammatically correct?

    For context:

    “You guys just want to order a bucket of wings?”

    Sarah said “Yes,” and Colin nodded.
     
  2. A.M.P.

    A.M.P. People Buy My Books for the Bio Photo Contributor

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    | Sarah said, "Yes." Colin just nodded.
     
  3. Kathryn Donahue

    Kathryn Donahue New Member

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    How about:

    "Yes" said Sarah while Colin just nodded his reply.
     
  4. ShannonH

    ShannonH Senior Member Contest Winner 2023

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    “You guys just want to order a bucket of wings?”

    "Yeah," said Sarah while Colin nodded.
     
  5. Wayjor Frippery

    Wayjor Frippery Contributor Contributor

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    Yes, it is. Normally you would separate Sarah said and "Yes" with a comma, but in this case it's not necessary because Sarah's speech is very short.

    In the UK, if you were following traditional Oxford style, you'd also move the comma after "Yes" outside the quotation marks.

    Sarah said “Yes”, and Colin nodded.

    But in the US and international English in general, your version is correct.
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2016
  6. Oscar Leigh

    Oscar Leigh Contributor Contributor

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    It depends on the larger context. Is Colin nodding significant? Or is it just that he happens to nod? Is him nodding is significant, I'd say go with one that says "just" in it to emphasize that he is nodding. But otherwise, I'd go with with what @ShannonH said.
     
  7. Wayjor Frippery

    Wayjor Frippery Contributor Contributor

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    I may have misunderstood, but I thought the OP asked a question about grammar not style. I'm not trying to single you out, Oscar, by quoting you here; it's just that you and all the posters above have made good style suggestions, which may be much better for the piece, but I didn't think they answered the original question.

    :)
     
  8. Oscar Leigh

    Oscar Leigh Contributor Contributor

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    Yes, you're right. The line is gramatically correct as it is! That is the grammar verdict. But frankly that's the boring bit.
     
  9. Wayjor Frippery

    Wayjor Frippery Contributor Contributor

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    Tell that to your editor at the publishing house. :p

    EDIT: You know, I've agonized over which emoticon to put here. I was trying to convey the idea that I'm bantering with you and not trying to get into a fight. Those little smiley bastards really don't cut it sometimes.
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2016
  10. Oscar Leigh

    Oscar Leigh Contributor Contributor

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    Not saying it's irrelevant, Just that it's black-and-white and emotionless. It's necessary but not entertaining to fix grammar. Making meanings out of sentence structure is more interesting that making them correct. And I gave an answer anyway.
     
  11. Wayjor Frippery

    Wayjor Frippery Contributor Contributor

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    I made an edit in my post above. I don't know if you read it before posting your last.

    Anyway, putting my serious hat back on, I disagree with you on every point you've made above. Grammar is meaning not some abstract thing that you can separate and consider simply mechanics. You play with grammar, you change the meaning; you change the meaning, you change the grammar. Yin and Yang, my friend. Yin and Yang.

    *Takes a long drag of his herbal cigarette*
     
    Oscar Leigh likes this.

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