Quotation question

[Iftheshoefits]

Say you have one character speaking continuously for a long time, and you need to start a new paragraph to continue that persons dialogue.

Do you put quotation marks at the begining and end of EACH paragraph in their dialogue? Or do you put one at the begining of where they start to speak, and wait until that character is done speaking to put the next one?

I have seen it done both ways here, I am wondering which way is correct.

Thanks.

 

[driphoney]

Say you have one character speaking continuously for a long time, and you need to start a new paragraph to continue that persons dialogue.

Do you put quotation marks at the begining and end of EACH paragraph in their dialogue? Or do you put one at the beginning of where they start to speak, and wait until that character is done speaking to put the next one?

I have seen it done both ways here, I am wondering which way is correct.

Thanks.

I'm not an editor, but for this question I know the answer! And you can confirm my answer by taking just about any fiction book off the shelf and looking closely at the dialogue.

When a character's dialogue runs into two or more paragraphs, the quotation marks are placed only at the start and finish of the entire dialogue. You never re-quote each paragraph, that would signify that a new character is speaking.

Now ... we wait and see if we can get three out of four editors to agree with me.

 

[sr71plt]

Quote marks at the beginning of each paragraph but at the end of only the final paragraph (Chicago Manual of Style, 11.36)

(So, one editor and the standard publishing style manual not agreeing with you, Drip. Sorry.)

 

[driphoney]

Quote marks at the beginning of each paragraph but at the end of only the final paragraph (Chicago Manual of Style, 11.36)

(So, one editor and the standard publishing style manual not agreeing with you, Drip. Sorry.)

Gee. You're right. Why did I have that wrong? I've actually had to deal that this recently. Humm ....

*goes and digs out novel*

Shall I amend my answer, so I don't look like my usual foolish self?! What's really embarrassing is that I KNOW how much I've read and as soon as I read your post, it knew I'd screwed up.

My new answer: What HE said!

 

[_Lynn_]

Quote marks at the beginning of each paragraph but at the end of only the final paragraph (Chicago Manual of Style, 11.36)

(So, one editor and the standard publishing style manual not agreeing with you, Drip. Sorry.)

I'm on your side.

 

[driphoney]

I'm on your side.

Hey wait! I changed sides! There's only one now!

 

[_Lynn_]

Hey wait! I changed sides! There's only one now!

But there were two sides, or you couldn't have changed from one to the other.

Maybe I should have said something like . . .

"Are you confused about using quotation marks for a speaker who is long-winded? Wondering which is the correct way to define their dialogue? Have you sat in front of your computer and changed them around to see which way looked right? Or maybe you even used paper and pencil so you could erase it each time.

"It can be confusing to some people. Putting the quotation marks at both the beginning and end of a paragraph seems natural. But since when have we followed the Chicago Manual of Natural Style? Then again, many authors have never even heard of the real CMS, let alone the CMNS.

"I suppose that means some will think this is all silly. That's all right. I can handle that. And I can show you the way to punctuate this type of dialogue. Look at where the quotation marks are in my example. They are in red to make them easier for you to see. If you're still unsure, go to the real CMS for the answer. Or you can ask sr."

 

[driphoney]

But there were two sides, or you couldn't have changed from one to the other.

Maybe I should have said something like . . .

"Are you confused about using quotation marks for a speaker who is long-winded? Wondering which is the correct way to define their dialogue? Have you sat in front of your computer and changed them around to see which way looked right? Or maybe you even used paper and pencil so you could erase it each time.

"It can be confusing to some people. Putting the quotation marks at both the beginning and end of a paragraph seems natural. But since when have we followed the Chicago Manual of Natural Style? Then again, many authors have never even heard of the real CMS, let alone the CMNS.

"I suppose that means some will think this is all silly. That's all right. I can handle that. And I can show you the way to punctuate this type of dialogue. Look at where the quotation marks are in my example. They are in red to make them easier for you to see. If you're still unsure, go to the real CMS for the answer. Or you can ask sr."

I must say, this is probably one of the most verbose postings I've ever seen from you, ML!

Sorry I forced it one you, but it's a very good example.

 

[_Lynn_]

I must say, this is probably one of the most verbose postings I've ever seen from you, ML!

Sorry I forced it one you, but it's a very good example.

Nah, you didn't force it from me.

 

[sr71plt]

And then there were none? No, wait, there surely will be some coming along to tell us what they thought their third cousin's high school English teacher had said--or how they think it looks prettier, so the rest of us should do it that way.

 

[driphoney]

And then there were none? No, wait, there surely will be some coming along to tell us what they thought their third cousin's high school English teacher had said--or how they think it looks prettier, so the rest of us should do it that way.

Patience, my dear.

 

[_Lynn_]

And then there were none? No, wait, there surely will be some coming along to tell us what they thought their third cousin's high school English teacher had said--or how they think it looks prettier, so the rest of us should do it that way.

*chuckle* You're bad.

 

[CopperSkink]

Stop being so negative it's Christmas >.<

While I've never heard of closing each paragraph with end quotes being unallowed, I make a point of editing them out where I find them, and I've only got one complaint that it looks funny. I told him to worry about something else, and I'll handle the boring particulars.

 

[_Lynn_]

Stop being so negative it's Christmas >.<

While I've never heard of closing each paragraph with end quotes being unallowed, I make a point of editing them out where I find them, and I've only got one complaint that it looks funny. I told him to worry about something else, and I'll handle the boring particulars.

No, Christmas is over. And who is being negative anyway?

 

[CopperSkink]

Shoosh it's still Christmas I can see the lights on outside >.<

 

[_Lynn_]

Shoosh it's still Christmas I can see the lights on outside >.<

So if someone leaves their lights up all year, does that mean it's Christmas the entire time too?

 

[sr71plt]

No, Christmas is over. And who is being negative anyway?

Christmas has barely started. It's not over until Epiphany, 6 January.

 

[sr71plt]

Stop being so negative it's Christmas >.<

While I've never heard of closing each paragraph with end quotes being unallowed, I make a point of editing them out where I find them, and I've only got one complaint that it looks funny. I told him to worry about something else, and I'll handle the boring particulars.

Might take your ear off the ground waiting to hear these things and read a style manual or two. Lit. authors might like their editors to have some relationship to publishing standards.

 

[Epmd607]

Might take your ear off the ground waiting to hear these things and read a style manual or two. Lit. authors might like their editors to have some relationship to publishing standards.

It seems CopperSkink runs the Editor's forum now. Maybe Lady C and MistressLynn will let him have it, no one comes around here anymore. :teardrop:

 

[snoopercharmbrights]

Stop being so negative it's Christmas >.< ...

But I thought that Christmas was a religious festival of a particular faith which had ten golden rules, most of which start "Thou shalt not ..."?

I must consult CMS on the matter of this festival and attitudes.

 

[Guest]

It seems CopperSkink runs the Editor's forum now. Maybe Lady C and MistressLynn will let him have it, no one comes around here anymore. :teardrop:

I've been coming around daily, but there was no one here to talk to. Oh well. Besides, there was nothing about editing to post, because I don't know shit yet. I just kinda hang around to try and learn.

 

[Guest]

But I thought that Christmas was a religious festival of a particular faith which had ten golden rules, most of which start "Thou shalt not ..."?

I must consult CMS on the matter of this festival and attitudes.

Nononononono. Christmas is a revision of Saturnalia that happens to coincide with Kwanzaa (sp?) and falls in line with Hanukkah and the winter solstice. It has nothing to do with rules whatsoever.

Where was it said "Thou shalt not smooch unless under the mistletoe"? What about "Thou shalt not leave without another glass of eggnog"?


No rules for Christmas. It's more of a secular thing nowadays.

 

[Guest]

But there were two sides, or you couldn't have changed from one to the other.

Maybe I should have said something like . . .

"Are you confused about using quotation marks for a speaker who is long-winded? Wondering which is the correct way to define their dialogue? Have you sat in front of your computer and changed them around to see which way looked right? Or maybe you even used paper and pencil so you could erase it each time.

"It can be confusing to some people. Putting the quotation marks at both the beginning and end of a paragraph seems natural. But since when have we followed the Chicago Manual of Natural Style? Then again, many authors have never even heard of the real CMS, let alone the CMNS.

"I suppose that means some will think this is all silly. That's all right. I can handle that. And I can show you the way to punctuate this type of dialogue. Look at where the quotation marks are in my example. They are in red to make them easier for you to see. If you're still unsure, go to the real CMS for the answer. Or you can ask sr."

Thank you for that. I learned something very important there.

 

[_Lynn_]

Christmas has barely started. It's not over until Epiphany, 6 January.

Okay, so we differ on that one. At my place, it's over on Dec. 26.

Thank you for that. I learned something very important there.

You're welcome.

 

[CopperSkink]

As the new boss of the Editor's Forum, I'd like to make a few changes in here.

First: Christmas isn't over until some time around March, when the last needle in the tree turns brown and falls off. Falling off while green doesn't count.

Second: Though shalt kiss under the mistletoe.

Third: Cookies left for Santa must be mildly chewy. All submissions completely crispy will be rejected for editing.

Fourth: Everyone gets to celebrate Christmas and everyone gets at least one day off for it, though not necessarily at the same time. Santa can't find people's houses if the electric company doesn't keep the decorative lights on.

Fifth: Turn off your portable heaters before turning on your toaster ovens or you'l pop the circuit breaker. If that happens, you risk losing power to your computer, and you as likely as not didn't save your last revision, so there goes eight hours of typing.

Half an iced ayyy.