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Guest
Guest
Hi. I was wondering if somebody could show me or tell me the proper way to show what someone is thinking to themselves. What kind of puctuation do I use ect. Thanks.
KillerMuffin
Seraphically Disinclined
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- Jul 29, 2000
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Dammit, where did that asshole leave my keys??? she thought, slamming down her purse. "Jack, have you seen my keys?" Damned loser.
or
Dammit, where did that asshole leave my keys, she thought, slamming down her purse. "Jack, have you seen my keys?" Damned loser.
or
Dammit, where did that asshole leave my keys, she thought, slamming down her purse. "Jack, have you seen my keys?" Damned loser.
KillerMuffin's right:
thoughts can be shown either with italics or simply as is with an attribution tag (i.e. he thought, she wondered, etc...) added to them.
most novelists simply use a tag to show thoughts.
be careful of fancy tags like, "pondered," or "mulled," or similar ones like that. Most people don't ponder unless they're in a serious philosophical situation. Mulling usually indicates a decision is to be made.
"thought," like "said," usually works best.
thoughts can be shown either with italics or simply as is with an attribution tag (i.e. he thought, she wondered, etc...) added to them.
most novelists simply use a tag to show thoughts.
be careful of fancy tags like, "pondered," or "mulled," or similar ones like that. Most people don't ponder unless they're in a serious philosophical situation. Mulling usually indicates a decision is to be made.
"thought," like "said," usually works best.
G
Guest
Guest
Thank you very much for all your help.
Sonia_de_Beaumanoir
Experienced
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- Jan 28, 2001
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KillerMuffin said:
As someone who deplores ellipses, you surprised me with those ???
Just kidding.
DopeyAngel
Literotica Guru
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- Jun 25, 2001
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Killer muffin is right, but you can also put the thoughts in speech marks,
e.g.
"Absolute fool" she thought as she smiled sweetly
e.g.
"Absolute fool" she thought as she smiled sweetly
Weird Harold
Opinionated Old Fart
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- Mar 1, 2000
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DopeyAngel said:
Not really, because when areader sees double quote marks the assumption is that what is inside them is an audible comment.
I have seen thoughts puctuated with single quote marks, but it is only appropriate where there is no other means to punctuate them.
Harold is correct, if you use " it can be confused with a quotation. Try a single ' and that will work.
"Darling you are a wonder!" She whispered in his ear. 'And have not the sightest idea in the world, how to please a woman!'
I don't think you woud even have to say - "She thought." - at the end. Just my humble opinion. I don't have a book to look it up in.
"Darling you are a wonder!" She whispered in his ear. 'And have not the sightest idea in the world, how to please a woman!'
I don't think you woud even have to say - "She thought." - at the end. Just my humble opinion. I don't have a book to look it up in.
