Proper way of quoting thoughts

[adoniss]

Grammar question: How do you signify someone's thoughts when writing dialogue (i.e., transitioning from spoken dialogue to a thought)? Do you use double quotes, singles quotes, or leave them off altogether? For example...

"That's a lovely dress," she said. "If you're hanging next to a window," she thought.

or

"That's a lovely dress," she said, if you're hanging next to a window, she thought.

or

"That's a lovely dress," she said. 'If you're hanging next to a window,' she thought.

The second example looks correct to me, but I can't find the exact rules in my grammar book. If this is the correct convention, would it all be one sentence, as in my example, or would it be broken up (which also looks wrongs), as in...

"That's a lovely dress," she said. If you're hanging next to a window, she thought.

Thanks!

 

[deliciously_naughty]

Generally, I would write it...

"That's a lovely dress," she said.

"If you're hanging next to a window," she added mentally.


I make them seperate, and thoughts are always italicized to make it clear to the reader that it is non verbalized.


You don't want to completely forgo quotation marks...I'm not sure why, but it just looks wrong.

 

[MathGirl]

I make them seperate, and thoughts are always italicized to make it clear to the reader that it is non verbalized.

Me, too.
MG

 

[pop_54]

Hi

No hard and fast rule I don't think, I don't bother with formatting italics and the like so I always use single quotes for thought, but you must if you can separate thought lines from speech lines by a double space break.

pops...........

 

[MathGirl]

Re: Hi

I don't bother with formatting italics

Dear Pop,
Could it be that you're just the tiniest bit by way of being lazy?
MG

 

[pop_54]

Re: Re: Hi

Dear Pop,
Could it be that you're just the tiniest bit by way of being lazy?
MG

Dear MG

Yes!!!

Sincerely: Rip-Van-Winkle

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

KillerMuffin has a thread going on this subject over on the Story Discussion Circle.

https://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=187843

You might want to check it out.

Rumple Foreskin

ps: Unless you're a Brit, never, ever, pay any attention to anything any Brit says about using quotation marks. Outside of the UK, single quotation marks are only used to designate quotations inside other quotations. As for using quotation marks to designate thoughts--don't. Readers can quickly become confused about what's spoken and what's just a thought. RF

 

[adoniss]

Thank you all for your replies - they were very helpful.

 

[Guest]

KillerMuffin has a thread going on this subject over on the Story Discussion Circle.

https://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=187843

You might want to check it out.

Rumple Foreskin

ps: Unless you're a Brit, never, ever, pay any attention to anything any Brit says about using quotation marks. Outside of the UK, single quotation marks are only used to designate quotations inside other quotations. As for using quotation marks to designate thoughts--don't. Readers can quickly become confused about what's spoken and what's just a thought. RF

I'm a Brit and I've never done that, and I would never suggest it should be done. You're right, it is confusing to the reader. I don't use italics either. I simply add the words she/he thought. That's how it's always done in all of the books I've ever read (and I've read a lot,) and it doesn't confuse me.
That is one of the keys to being a good writer (not that I'm claiming to be good, but I try.) Read, read a lot, from many different genres. You not only get a feel for language, but the technical aspects of writing become apparent to you.

Lou

 

[deliciously_naughty]

. I don't use italics either. I simply add the words she/he thought. That's how it's always done in all of the books I've ever read (and I've read a lot,) and it doesn't confuse me.
That is one of the keys to being a good writer (not that I'm claiming to be good, but I try.) Read, read a lot, from many different genres. You not only get a feel for language, but the technical aspects of writing become apparent to you.

I totally agree that reading is what taught me more about the technical aspects of American English. I look at something and it generally can look right or wrong.

However, I'll have to go and look, but most of the books that I've read have used italics for thoughts...I'll have to go find examples to back myself up thought. Maybe another brit/american difference?

 

[adoniss]

Tatelou,

Excellent advice. I actually did look through a bunch of random books looking for examples, but didn't spend enough time and came up short. I do read a great deal, but not as much as I used to, or should.

Thanks,

adoniss

PS - love your pic