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Quick question about capitalization in dialogue.

 
 
Reply Thu 29 Dec, 2016 07:59 pm
Hi all, I have a quick question about capitalization in dialogue, specifically whether the second part of dialogue is capitalized after the dialogue tag in cases where the first part finishes with an exclamation point or a question mark.

Example:

“Jenny!” he called to his wife, “What happened to us?”

So is the "W" in the word what supposed to be capitalized, or not?

I find this a bit confusing because it would seem not, but that doesn't seem proper when an exclamation point or question mark serves to "end" the first part. Thanks in advance for your help!
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Type: Question • Score: 3 • Views: 542 • Replies: 6
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cicerone imposter
 
  2  
Reply Thu 29 Dec, 2016 08:13 pm
@DaveinJapan,
Yes, it's capitalized because you completed the previous sentence with an explanation point. It's a terminal punctuation.
dalehileman
 
  -3  
Reply Fri 30 Dec, 2016 03:03 pm
@cicerone imposter,
I'd disagree w/Cis! but dunno why
Con we needja
0 Replies
 
Ragman
 
  2  
Reply Fri 30 Dec, 2016 03:07 pm
@cicerone imposter,
agreed.
0 Replies
 
ossobucotemp
 
  2  
Reply Fri 30 Dec, 2016 03:35 pm
@DaveinJapan,
Welcome to a2k, Dave. You ask good questions!
0 Replies
 
Roberta
 
  1  
Reply Fri 30 Dec, 2016 03:57 pm
@DaveinJapan,
DaveinJapan wrote:



Example:

“Jenny!” he called to his wife, “What happened to us?”


Jenny is followed by an exclamation mark. That makes it end punctuation. You need to make the h in He capitalized and the w in what is lowercase.

OR

You can say,

"Jenny," he called to his wife, "what happened to us?"



cicerone imposter
 
  2  
Reply Fri 30 Dec, 2016 04:06 pm
@Roberta,
Very good; I believe that covers all the options.
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