Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Quotations, commas, and capitalization
I am confused about two things when using quotations.
First, how do you know when to put a comma after the word just before the quotation begins?
Second, how do you know whether or not to capitalize the first word of a quotation?
For example, which of the following sentences are correct, and why? Which are incorrect, and why?
Option 1. After a while, he said, “The scars will fade.”
Option 2. After a while, he said, “the scars will fade.”
Option 3. After a while, he said “The scars will fade.”
Option 4. After a while, he said “The scars will fade.”
First, how do you know when to put a comma after the word just before the quotation begins?
Second, how do you know whether or not to capitalize the first word of a quotation?
For example, which of the following sentences are correct, and why? Which are incorrect, and why?
Option 1. After a while, he said, “The scars will fade.”
Option 2. After a while, he said, “the scars will fade.”
Option 3. After a while, he said “The scars will fade.”
Option 4. After a while, he said “The scars will fade.”
Top answer
Option 2 - you DO put the comma right before the quote and you DO start the quoted material with a capital letter.
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Option 2 - you DO put the comma right before the quote and you DO start the quoted material with a capital letter.
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Grammar GeekOption 2 - you DO put the comma right before the quote and you DO start the quoted material with a capital letter.Hi Barbara
It should be option 1.
Option 1. After a while, he said, “The scars will fade.” (You DO start the quoted material with a capital letter.)
Option 2. After a while, he said, “the sca
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Would a colon be acceptable?
After a while, he said: “The scars will fade.”
After a while, he said: “The scars will fade.”
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Akavall Would a colon be acceptable?Yes. The following is an example. I think the colon is used in AmE, wheres in BrE a comma is used.
After a while, he said: “The scars will fade.”
After feeling discouraged and behind 25 points in the last basketball championship game, the coach was reminded of something Winston Churchill o
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What about in a sentence such as:
But ultimately, he said, “success really does build success.”
or
Ultimately, he said, “the war machinery that uses force will benefit more in the long term,” stressing that it must be considered how the people evaluating the actions of the military will judge its actions.
Each of these examples came from articles p
But ultimately, he said, “success really does build success.”
or
Ultimately, he said, “the war machinery that uses force will benefit more in the long term,” stressing that it must be considered how the people evaluating the actions of the military will judge its actions.
Each of these examples came from articles p
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ScribblerWhat about in a sentence such as:
But ultimately, he said, “success really does build success.” (Same as stated below.)
or
Ultimately, he said, “the war machinery that uses force will benefit more in the long term,” stressing that it must be considered how the people evaluating the actions of the m
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Sorry - I had a very small window and got mixed up. Yes, I meant Option 1.
I don't know where this idea about the colon being American English came from. I never use a colon to introduce a simple quote.
I don't know where this idea about the colon being American English came from. I never use a colon to introduce a simple quote.
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Maybe the colon use is not American, but is it OK to use it?
According to wikipedia (on colon usage):
"segmental: introduces a direct http://www.EnglishForward.com/wiki/Speech_communication, in combination with
According to wikipedia (on colon usage):
"segmental: introduces a direct http://www.EnglishForward.com/wiki/Speech_communication, in combination with
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In that example, the quote is used to show how the "boldness" is demonstrated, using the colon as it's normally used.
I would never, ever write James said: "How are you?"
I would never, ever write James said: "How are you?"
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