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  1. LoaDyron

    LoaDyron Contributor Contributor

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    '...' or "..." for dialogue

    Discussion in 'Dialogue Development' started by LoaDyron, Mar 23, 2019.

    Hello guys.

    I have this question that may be simple, but it's bugging me. What do you advice to use on dialogue? Or both works? Example:

    'Yes, of course,' she said.

    or

    "Yes, of course," she said.
     
  2. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    I regard this as a style book issue--an arbitrary choice that somebody gets to decide. I seem to remember that in the US it tends to be double quotes and in the UK it tends to be single. And when you nest quotes, you switch to the other one. That is:

    Jane raised her eyebrows. "And what exactly did I do that was 'tragically stupid'?"
     
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  3. The Dapper Hooligan

    The Dapper Hooligan (V) ( ;,,;) (v) Contributor

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    Double quotes are the trend right now in Canada, though I know they weren't always. I think some publishers change them if they're regionalizing a book, too, though the only time I've seen this is in a couple of different copies of The Chrysalids that my school had.
     
  4. Infel

    Infel Contributor Contributor

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    I can confirm that in the US a single quote looks more like drawing emphasis to something, or saying it sarcastically, and double quotes are exclusively for dialogue.

    I hate having to trouble her with the more 'mundane' aspects of social grace.
    "Beverly, please remove your face from the soup bowl," I sighed.
     
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  5. The Dapper Hooligan

    The Dapper Hooligan (V) ( ;,,;) (v) Contributor

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    Technically sarcasm is supposed to be indicated by a percontation mark (βΈ®), though it's also supposed to mark rhetorical questions, too. I personally prefer italics if I feel the need to draw attention to a specific word.
     
  6. Fallow

    Fallow Banned

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    I think it is more than just a choice, but a standard that is different between the the US and UK:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quotation_mark
     
  7. LoaDyron

    LoaDyron Contributor Contributor

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    Oh, I see. So that differs depending on where you are. Thank you guys so much for the clarification. :supersmile:
     
  8. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    If you are writing for an American market, double quotes is the standard. In the UK, single quotes is the old standard, but it is giving way to the double quotes standard.

    See my "He said, she said" blog entry.
     
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  9. matwoolf

    matwoolf Banned Contributor

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    R u sure about the "double chunks?" I thought we were winning...
     
  10. Iain Aschendale

    Iain Aschendale Lying, dog-faced pony Marine Supporter Contributor

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    Wow, I'm an American and I can't recall ever seeing single quotes used to indicate dialogue except where nested as above. So regional, yeah, but if you're writing for the US market, double.
     

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