Quotations for non dialogue

[Soma99]

In a recent story I used quotation marks around the word "friend" once to designate that he was not a buddy but a guy I was having sexy with but not dating.

I then used them around another word later because a character was lying about who that were on the phone with.

Example: I doubt many "foremen" call at 3:00 on Sunday afternoons.

My story was sent back with a comment about my use of quotation marks. I can not find any other instance in the story where I used them in even a slightly unusual way. There are no paragraphs where more then one person speaks.

There is very little dialogue in the story to begin with.

Is this use of quotes to emphasize a word not aloud? These two examples are not in paragraphs with any dialogue.

Thanks for any feedback

Soma

 

[rescatooor]

Well, that is unusually nitpicky.

In this instance, I would use single quotation marks to make the difference clear. E.g. 'foremen' instead of "foremen".

 

[NotWise]

Is this use of quotes to emphasize a word not aloud? These two examples are not in paragraphs with any dialogue.

I've never heard of that use of quotations marks as a problem. The usual problem with quotation marks seems to be with the placement of punctuation.

Guy said, "Go fly a kite." is correct in US usage.
Guy said, "Go fly a kite". is not correct in US usage.

 

[Soma99]

I've never heard of that use of quotations marks as a problem. The usual problem with quotation marks seems to be with the placement of punctuation.

Guy said, "Go fly a kite." is correct in US usage.
Guy said, "Go fly a kite". is not correct in US usage.

I thought so, anyways, is there a way to contact a someone to get more clarity?

This isn't my first story, I have used dialog in my other 7 with no issue.

 

[sr71plt]

I think the editor must be pointing to a different problem. Most likely the punctuation used with the dialogue quotation marks.

 

[Dream_Operator]

Collins English Dictionary

scare quotes

plural noun

1. quotation marks placed around a word or phrase to indicate that it should not be taken literally or automatically accepted as true.

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So I don't think "friends" is the issue.

I had a look at some of your other stories and there are problems with the punctuation of dialogue. Here are a few examples:

"Oh sure" Taylor went across the room Emily followed her and grabbed it.

"Oh sure." is a complete sentence and should end with a period.

"Thanks" Emily replied as she left Taylor's room.

A dialogue tag follows the speech and is a continuation of the sentence, so a comma should be included before the ending quotation mark.

"Thanks," Emily replied as she left Taylor's room.

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Here's a list of rules from glencoe.com:

Use quotation marks before and after a character's exact words. Place a period inside closing quotation marks.

"Peter and Esteban are joining us."

Use a comma to set off the speaker's tag (he said) from the beginning of a quotation. Place the comma inside closing quotation marks when the speaker's tag follows the quotation.

Harry said, "Come on, Ray. It'll be fun."

"Let's go," Gilda said.

Use quotation marks around each part of a divided quotation. Remember to set off the speaker's tag with commas.

"I'm not sure," said Ray, "that I feel like it."

Place a question mark or an exclamation point inside the quotation marks when it is part of the quotation.

"When will we be back?" Ray asked.

"Hooray!" said Debbi.

Place a question mark or an exclamation point outside the quotation marks when it is not part of the quotation.

Did I hear Ray say, "Okay"?

I can't believe he said, "Okay"!

Start a new paragraph when you move from one speaker to another.

"How long a hike is it?" Ray asked. "I don't know whether I have the energy."

"I think," said Iris, "that it's about seven miles to the top."

 

[Soma99]

Ok thanks for the feedback, I'll give it a closer look.

 

[TxRad]

I thought so, anyways, is there a way to contact a someone to get more clarity?

This isn't my first story, I have used dialog in my other 7 with no issue.

The person to contact is Laurel and do it by PM. Or you can resubmit the story with a note in the comments section asking about the quotation mark rejection.

 

[oggbashan]

In a recent story I used quotation marks around the word "friend" once to designate that he was not a buddy but a guy I was having sexy with but not dating.

...

Is this use of quotes to emphasize a word not aloud? These two examples are not in paragraphs with any dialogue.

Thanks for any feedback

Soma

That sort of usage is similar to that when someone talking indicates the emphasis quotation marks by the fingers.

With the problems you already have with punctuation I would avoid using quotation marks in that way. Use adjectives instead e.g. a kissing friend and "many actual foremen".