How to Write a Dialogue Where the Character Can't Speak in a Full Sentence?

You might try reading Elmore Leonard's stuff. His characters know little to nothing about complete sentences. In any case, there doesn't really seem to be a convention, so I suppose the em dash or ellipsis is as good as any. I can follow your sample well enough, so it's probably as good as anything. I notice many authors use a simple period after their fragments.

Nothing wrong with your use of the ellipses. Dashes wouldn't work as well, imo.

Knowing you, you're probably stating this to be indicative of their poor language skills, Rog. If so, that's just another indication of your ignorance on language. If not, I can't imagine why you would have stated it in this manner.

Regretfully, JTT knows nothing of writing dialog. At least She/he/it can check Google for frequency of occurance and spelling, all the while completely avoiding answering the question.

One of my favourite characters in fiction is the immortal Mr Jingle:

"Heads, heads - take care of your heads", cried the loquacious stranger as they came out under the low archway which in those days formed the entrance to the coachyard. "Terrible place – dangerous work – other day – five children – mother – tall lady, eating sandwiches – forgot the arch – crash – knock – children look round – mother's head off – sandwich in her hand – no mouth to put it in – head of family off – shocking, shocking. Looking at Whitehall Sir, – fine place – little window – somebody else's head off there, eh, Sir? – he didn't keep a sharp look-out either – eh, sir, eh?"

That has nothing to do with what I mentioned, your ignorance on language, Roger the dodger.




When that's needed, yes, I most certainly can, Roger. What's yer point?



It's just as important, maybe more so, to address the ignorant statements that often accompany these questions.



Anyone who advances the ludicrous notion that people don't know how to speak in full sentences is highly ignorant about language.

I see that you've not seen fit to defend yourself.



You might try reading up a wee bit on the science of language so that you don't embarrass yourself so.