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wait a second...what?!

PostPosted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:04 pm
by Hawkins
Okay, some idiot was going on about words to express speech. Like 'said', 'asked', 'cried', etc...she says that this:

"Wait...what?" he asked. or
"I'm sorry," she apologized.

is wrong. She actually said "remember the infamous line from Eragon--"I'm sorry," Brom apologized. NO NO NO!" and something like "once you've ended the question with a question mark, you don't have to tack 'he asked' on there." I think she's an idiot, but I don't know.

PostPosted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:43 pm
by barneygirl
Ok,funny this should come up. I just happened to purchase a new book devoted to dialogue. There is not a rule that says you MUST NOT tack on she asked or she said after the punctuation. If there are more than 2 people involved in the conversation, then you would have to tack on who was doing the saying or asking.
However if the dialogue invloves only 2 people, it is possible to carry out the conversation without tagging.

PostPosted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:45 pm
by pommie
Yes, the asked thing is generally acceptable.

However, the apologised part is not. If they are saying sorry, then there is no need for the author to say it again by tacking on 'apologised Character X' on the end of it... unless the reader is particularly obtuse :P

PostPosted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 6:11 pm
by The Bee
And what if you want to add more? Like: "Could I maybe have a piece of pie?" asked the child quietly, looking at his feet.

I mean, come on. That girl is an idiot.