Questions tagged [dialogue]
Questions about authored conversations between two or more people as found in books, plays, or films. Please use the "conversations" tag for natural spoken conversations
155
questions
-1
votes
0
answers
19
views
"That's all right" vs "Never mind" [closed]
I think both C and D could be the correct answer. What do you think?
0
votes
0
answers
58
views
Sequence of tenses in dialogue: why is "No, can't say I had" used in response to "Perhaps you didn't notice?"?
From the movie "No Time to Die":
Nomi: The world's moved on since you retired, Commander Bond. Perhaps you didn't notice?
Bond: No, can't say I had."
Why did Bond use "had" ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
43
views
Meaning of "inspecting the truce" in this context
No matter how many times I watch the SWOR trailer "Return", I can't grasp this interaction:
-Bounty hunter peeks at a what seems to be an attractive female.
+Eyes front.
-Just inspecting ...
- 343
0
votes
0
answers
26
views
Punctuating Dialogue That Runs with Sentence [duplicate]
How would I punctuate this line of dialogue?
Example 1 (minimal punctuation): Jane handed me the phone with a “here she is” before leaving the room.
Example 2: (comma): Jane handed me the phone with a ...
- 96
0
votes
1
answer
88
views
Dialogue in the TV series "Billions"
While I was watching the TV series "Billions," there was a dialogue between two people working for Axe Capital. They argue about smart guns and say:
(A says smart guns can be a ten-bagger. ...
- 55
0
votes
1
answer
47
views
How to break a quote with narrative in a single sentence?
In creative writing (US English), what is the most appealing way to insert a bit of narrative within dialog in a single sentence? For example:
“The unified kingdom of my childhood,” Lucy hoped to ...
- 3
-1
votes
1
answer
34
views
How to multi-paragraph quote within quote?
When a speaker's words in dialogue extend to more than one paragraph, we use an opening quotation mark at the beginning of each paragraph and use a closing quotation mark only at the end of the person'...
- 1
2
votes
2
answers
84
views
What was the reference to 'federal case' in the movie Air Force One
In the movie Air Force One, there is a scene where the President makes a call to the White House switchboard, Where the operator says
Okay, sir. You want to make a federal case out of this, fine by ...
- 137
0
votes
1
answer
155
views
Should I use a period or comma in the dialogue preceding "nodded" or "gestured"? [duplicate]
Not the first time the question appears. I was wondering about usage of commas and periods in dialogues. Here’s an example from the recent book I chanced upon:
“The tea,” she gestured. “Snakes are ...
0
votes
1
answer
43
views
"a square deal from me and most of the breaks"
I was watching The Maltese Falcon and there's a scene when Dundy, a cop, tells Sam Spade (who Dundy thinks may have murdered someone) the following:
Well, you know me, Spade. If you did it, or if you ...
- 181
1
vote
1
answer
90
views
What's it called when, instead of saying 'you,' you say the name of the person you're talking to?
Let's say you're talking to Sarah and you make her upset so you say to her
"I would hate to make Sarah upset."
Is there a term for using 'Sarah' instead of the usual 'you' here?
- 27
1
vote
1
answer
64
views
Is there a term for the aspect of style where an author indicates who is speaking? [duplicate]
In a novel, for example, imagine the following sentence:
"I like chowder", Helen said.
What I'm looking for is the highlighted part. There are many different ways that particular sentence ...
- 221
0
votes
0
answers
32
views
Can I end a quote/dialogue with a colon?
If a character is introducing something, say, a PowerPoint presentation, how should I punctuate their speech? Can I use a colon?
For example:
"We have proof. Just take a look at this:" He ...
0
votes
0
answers
18
views
Would You Capitalize a Part of Sentence That is After a Dialogue? [duplicate]
This something that I'm very confused about...
You see, here is one example of the sentence:
I ran ahead and said, "I don't want that," and crashed against a wall.
In this sentence, you ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
53
views
If there is no reporting verb, would you still use comma in these constructions?
Usually, after a reporting verb, there is bound to be a comma, but what if the constructions are as follow:
As if waiting for me to say that one sentence, Cornelia followed up with a request, “Welp, ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
47
views
Simple Abbreviation Confusion
You know that a lot of words can be abbreviated like:
You know -> y'know
About -> 'bout
Going to -> gonna
and much more
To be honest, I found one interesting abbreviation:
Of course ->...
- 71
0
votes
1
answer
41
views
Sorkin's "Your imagination, like a child, will explode with unrestrained possibilities for adventure." Works so well despite feeling problematic; why? [closed]
I'm going to somewhat but not completely premise my question on the following:
the line is likely written or edited by Aaron Sorkin rather than Kevin Falls (Galileo West Wing Season 2 Episode 9 ...
- 877
0
votes
1
answer
41
views
Is reverberate a dialogue tag? [closed]
Just like the title say and here are the examples:
“Took you long enough.” Without warning, her voice reverberated from my side.
“Ngh! Phew… Oh no!” A voice reverberated from the crash site and ...
- 71
1
vote
1
answer
80
views
"brothers in her bag"
in the film The Maltese Falcon (1941) the private detective Miles said
"They have brothers in her bag."
context: the client, beautiful women Wonderly gave him two Dollar bill and after she ...
- 21
0
votes
1
answer
222
views
Dialogue with multiple sentences before the “he said”
Usually when writing dialogue, you write it as such:
“I am so glad it’s raining,” said John.
However, is it acceptable standard to write MULTIPLE sentences before the said tag? As in:
“How are you? ...
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
116
views
What is the term for the name tags before dialogue in a play?
I remember my professor from years ago providing a specific technical term for the abbreviated name tags in front of dialogue in a play, e.g.
So: The Athenians don't just call it a suit, Euthyphro, ...
- 19
0
votes
1
answer
128
views
How to punctuate overheard dialogue with a noise interrupting it?
How would you punctuate dialogue when it's overheard by others (who only hear it) and when there is a noise that interrupts it? (same as action?) Been flailing about with this but does this look right?...
- 1
2
votes
3
answers
435
views
A word, gesture or expression for a confident "shrug"
I am trying to look for a word, gesture or expression that represents a state of confident not knowing. So far I am using a shrug for this but when used often it starts to come off as very apathetic ...
- 1,071
0
votes
1
answer
269
views
What dialogue tag can be used to describe being confused? [closed]
For example; My brother was standing in front of my room. “Are you ok with this?” He huffs.
“What do you mean?” [A term that would describe that she is confused]
1
vote
0
answers
108
views
Is 'lamented' a dialogue tag? [closed]
In these sentences,
"I miss having breakfast every day," he lamented.
"I miss having breakfast every day." He lamented.
is the first correct? I would say lamented is a dialogue ...
- 253
2
votes
1
answer
177
views
Is it alright to use logical punctuation?
Since I have been writing, I have been using what I thought was just the British style of punctuation. However, I realised that it is actually called 'logical punctuation'.
I have used this style of ...
- 21
0
votes
2
answers
97
views
Grammatical correctness of continuing sentences off dialogue tags
The following is a quote from Philip Pullman's 'La Belle Sauvage':
"It's a present for her," said Malcolm, and thrust it in among Lyra's blankets.
Now, to me, this sentence doesn't really ...
- 144
1
vote
0
answers
23
views
Dialogue usage uncertainty
Sorry for the vague title! I'm writing a short story and I'm wondering if the below sentence is correct. Should a new paragraph be started when she hears the shout, since it's technically dialogue? Or ...
- 33
1
vote
1
answer
378
views
Meaning of this piece of dialogue in The Call of the Wild?
Here is an excerpt from Chapter 1 of The Call of the Wild by Jack London:
Yet his time came, in the end, in the form of a little weazened man
who spat broken English and many strange and uncouth ...
- 106
-1
votes
1
answer
44
views
"Brick Mansions" Movie Dialog [closed]
In the script of the movie, it is written "your backing" but I cannot hear that! I hear this: "your back". What is that in fact?
The passage of dialog:
"Now, with your ...
- 119
0
votes
0
answers
38
views
English text book - phrase to be used in an example dialogue
I'm in the middle of writing a dialogue for an English text book - a short excerpt from the dialogue is as follows:
Coach: Your form is not bad, but you have to work on your strength.
Athlete: ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
45
views
Singleton letters in direct speech
I am writing a scene where one of the characters screams, "H" and "O-H." I want to know the best to indicate that to the reader, that the distinct letters are being pronounced, not ...
0
votes
0
answers
16
views
Capitalization after an internal dialogue prefix tag [duplicate]
Do you capitalize the sentence after an internal dialogue (a.k.a. thought bubble) that uses a prefix tag? That is, in an example like:
Will thought, My father must not like me.
Or do you do:
Will ...
0
votes
1
answer
21
views
Starting a sentence with a past verb?
I am a spanish speaker, and the last night I watched the movie "The Silencing". There, some characters used expressions such as:
"Realized I did not like to let animals suffer"
In ...
Daniel Alejandro Rivas Galindo
8
votes
4
answers
3k
views
What type of English is used in the dialogue of the Lord of the Rings movies? [closed]
In the movie The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Elrond speaks to his daughter:
"If Aragorn survives this war, you will still be parted. If Sauron is defeated and Aragorn made king and all ...
1
vote
1
answer
88
views
In direct speech, should there be a comma after the clause but before 'as'?
I have had a peep at similar posts but couldn't find what I was looking for, so apologies if I am repeating a question.
Which is correct?
"Wow!" gasped Sarah as she spotted the sparkling ...
- 33
0
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Should you use quotation marks when transcribing an interview in which the speakers are identified before each quote?
I apologize if the title is unclear, as I couldn't find a great way to phrase this.
What I'm asking is, which of the following would be correct?
Interviewer: Good morning, thank you for joining me.
...
0
votes
1
answer
261
views
Should you start a new paragraph for a new speaker if both speakers are contained in the same quoted passage?
This manuscript quotes a passage from the Bible that has more than one speaker:
Job 1:6–7 says:
One day, when the angels had gathered around the Lord, and Satan was there with them, the Lord asked,...
1
vote
0
answers
247
views
How should a numbered list be punctuated within dialogue?
In a story, a character reads aloud a numbered list. What should the punctuation be? I was thinking of treating it like a recitation of a poem or song - indented and italicized. There are 26 items in ...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
210
views
Do you always need commas after dialogue tags and detailed locations?
I have a couple of questions about commas.
If you quote a short sentence, can you omit the comma after the dialogue tag as a matter of style?
For instance:
Whenever I come home, I always say "...
0
votes
0
answers
197
views
Use of 'period' at the end of sentence
I have observed this in some quotes or dialogues that people say 'period.' at the end of their sentence/quote.
I wanted to ask why and when is it used
- 101
0
votes
0
answers
299
views
Interrupted quotation in a paragraph
Please help me with the correct usage of capitalisation in an interrupted quotation.
For example:
Alice yelled, "Get out of here."
In the above sentence, the first word under the quotes is ...
0
votes
1
answer
84
views
Using "this" or "that" in a sentence
I wondered which term for the below paragraph is correct grammar and whether I should use "this" or "that".
Peter kept wondering about everything he had overheard. For the time being, he wanted to ...
- 3
1
vote
0
answers
59
views
What would you call parts of dialogue?
As in
'The cat jumped over the dog,' Jack said
What would you call the "Jack said" part?
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
422
views
Positioning of comma when assumptions are added to other people's information, as in "I assume" [duplicate]
In a passage of my book, a character tells another that he's "dead". Now, this scene is quite intense, propping up what seems like an imminent fight. The character being threatened has picked up on ...
- 2,117
1
vote
1
answer
1k
views
Are dialogue tags after a question capitalized?
When writing dialogue and dialogue tags, I have always asked myself if the tag is a complete sentence. If so, I use a comma and lower case such as:
She said, "Bob."
"Bob," she ...
- 134
2
votes
1
answer
214
views
What is a word to describe when someone is upset that someone else thinks little of themself?
I'm writing a story and the characters have just got to their love confession and I'm trying to think of a specific word to capture their feeling, but I can't remember it.
Character A: "They're not ...
- 21
1
vote
3
answers
1k
views
Punctuating dialogue interrupted by speaker?
When a speaker briefly interrupts their own dialogue, then resumes in the same paragraph, how do you punctuate the interruption?
I know that, when it doesn't halt speech (i.e. dashes outside quotes), ...
- 35
4
votes
0
answers
2k
views
"Say" and "said" as transitive and intransitive verbs
I have an interesting question. Is "say" a transitive verb in the case of direct/reported speech? I understand that it can be a transitive verb in cases like "She said the phrase." or "She says the ...
- 400
1
vote
1
answer
114
views
What is the name of the literary technique/device used where the reader is only shown one side of a dialogue?
What is the literary device used when there is a dialogue but only one speaker's side is heard/shown to the reader/audience. And how can I write this in a way that it is clear that although this ...
- 25