Question about punctuation when writing dialog

[marshalt]

So maybe I should ask the authors or the how-to board but I don't know those fuckers at all.

Here's my question. When you're writing dialog in a story, what is the proper way to show someone being interrupted? Let's say John and Sarah are having a conversation. John is saying something, but Sarah cuts him off mid-sentence.

Here's an example of the dialog.

John: I think we should

Sarah: Let me stop you, because I already know what you're going to say

Now, proper punctuation for writing dialog would say the conversation should look something like this.

John and Sarah sat silently while they thought about getting a dog. After several minutes, John spoke up and said, "I think we should."

"Let me stop you," Sarah interrupted, "because I already know what you're going to say."

John's dialog is the issue here. Or rather, the proper way to punctuate it. What I want to make clear to the reader is that John is being interrupted. He never gets to finish his sentence. The way it's written now, it looks like John is saying yes, they should get a dog.

I've wondered about using ellipses or maybe a dash to end the sentence, to show that John had more to say, but was interrupted.

"I think we should..."

"I think we should-"

I really don't know the proper way to do this.

Any ideas?

 

[unregistered]

 

[oggbashan]

I would recommend:

John: "I think we should..."

Sarah: "Let me stop you, because I already know what you're going to say."

That is the way I write interruptions, but the Chicago Manual of Style gives the definitive answers for US English.

 

[Pookie]

"I think we should ..." John began.

Sarah interrupted, "Let me stop you because I already know what you're going to say."

If it's just two people in the dialogue, one or possibly even both tags could be eliminated. Also, I wouldn't have Sarah say "Let me stop you because". It's already known she is interrupting him. Let the dialogue flow like it would if the two were actually speaking face to face and you were listening instead of reading it. Tags can become a drag on the flow if not careful.

 

[richard_daily]

I'm fairly certain that the CMS states that an ellipses should be used only when a thought trails off...

an M dash (not a hyphen) should be used for an interruption—I believe with no spaces on either side, although I don't know if it should be inside the quotes.

I don't have it in front of me, although I'm sure someone should be able to confirm.

 

[glynndah]

I'm fairly certain that the CMS states that an ellipses should be used only when a thought trails off...

an M dash (not a hyphen) should be used for an interruption—I believe with no spaces on either side, although I don't know if it should be inside the quotes.

I don't have it in front of me, although I'm sure someone should be able to confirm.

I'm pretty sure it goes inside the quotes. You might have better luck in the AH, although issues of grammar get pretty tense over there.

{pun intended.}

 

[JohnnySavage]

How could she interrupt him when she's wearing the ball gag

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

"I think we should ..." John began.

Sarah interrupted, "Let me stop you because I already know what you're going to say."

If it's just two people in the dialogue, one or possibly even both tags could be eliminated. Also, I wouldn't have Sarah say "Let me stop you because". It's already known she is interrupting him. Let the dialogue flow like it would if the two were actually speaking face to face and you were listening instead of reading it. Tags can become a drag on the flow if not careful.

I know, she should be saying, "Let me gag you..."



"There, now we can talk!"

 

[Pookie]

I'm fairly certain that the CMS states that an ellipses should be used only when a thought trails off...

an M dash (not a hyphen) should be used for an interruption—I believe with no spaces on either side, although I don't know if it should be inside the quotes.

I don't have it in front of me, although I'm sure someone should be able to confirm.

You're probably right.

 

[Pookie]

I know, she should be saying, "Let me gag you..."



"There, now we can talk!"

Ha!!!

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

"mMmffmbr!"

 

[marshalt]

I'm fairly certain that the CMS states that an ellipses should be used only when a thought trails off...

an M dash (not a hyphen) should be used for an interruption—I believe with no spaces on either side, although I don't know if it should be inside the quotes.

I don't have it in front of me, although I'm sure someone should be able to confirm.

This is what I was thinking, but wasn't sure.

Does the dash also act as ending punctuation?

"I think we should—"

Or do you need a period at the end?

"I think we should—."

 

[marshalt]

"I think we should ..." John began.

Sarah interrupted, "Let me stop you because I already know what you're going to say."

If it's just two people in the dialogue, one or possibly even both tags could be eliminated. Also, I wouldn't have Sarah say "Let me stop you because". It's already known she is interrupting him. Let the dialogue flow like it would if the two were actually speaking face to face and you were listening instead of reading it. Tags can become a drag on the flow if not careful.

That is just an example I came up with. I wanted to make sure what I was asking as clear as possible. Otherwise some people might get into a 7 page argument that had nothing to do with the question I was asking.

Good point about tags though, I think they are bullshit.

 

[unregistered]

 

[Que]

That is just an example I came up with. I wanted to make sure what I was asking as clear as possible. Otherwise some people might get into a 7 page argument that had nothing to do with the question I was asking.

Good point about tags though, I think they are bullshit.

On Lit? Naw, not possible.

 

[feverplanet]

This is what I was thinking, but wasn't sure.

Does the dash also act as ending punctuation?

"I think we should—"

Or do you need a period at the end?

"I think we should—."

No period there.

Agreed, no full-stop at all on the interrupted sentence.

 

[parodyluvr75]

I would recommend:

John: "I think we should..."

Sarah: "Let me stop you, because I already know what you're going to say."

That is the way I write interruptions, but the Chicago Manual of Style gives the definitive answers for US English.

This. Or you can put actions in to signify it.

 

[VaticanAssassin]

I find it hard to believe no one has asked for my opinion yet...

 

[parodyluvr75]

How could she interrupt him when she's wearing the ball gag

Hitting him some place sensitive?

 

[parodyluvr75]

I find it hard to believe no one has asked for my opinion yet...

Maybe because they've read your posts?

 

[VaticanAssassin]

Maybe because they've read your posts?

I Tee it up for you like that and you bunt?????

 

[parodyluvr75]

I Tee it up for you like that and you bunt?????

It's my thing, babe. Sometimes the soft shot is better.

 

[Magnetron]

John and Sarah sat silently while they thought about getting a dog.

After several minutes, John spoke up and said, "I think we should . . ."

Sarah interrupted him, saying, "Let me stop you, because I already know what you're going to say."

 

[Que]

John and Sarah​

​

Sat silently
while they thought

about

getting a dog.


After

.

.

.

.

.

several minutes,

John

Spoke up
and said,

"I think we should . . ."

Sarah

Interrupted him,
saying,

"Let me stop you,

because

I already know
what

you're

going to say."​

FYP



.







.

 

[Never]

Em dash for interruptions. Ellipses for trailing off or incomplete thoughts.

The em dash should not be followed by a period.