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Fri 26 Nov, 2021 08:05 pm
In British English, should a comma or colon be used to introduce direct speech? For example,
John said, “I’m coming.”
John said: “I’m coming.”
Thanks
@tanguatlay,
I wouldn't use either of them.
@cherrie,
cherrie wrote:
I wouldn't use either of them.
Then what would you use? Please share.
In British English, should a comma or colon be used to introduce direct speech? For example,
John said, “I’m coming.”
John said: “I’m coming.”
Thanks
@tanguatlay,
John said, “I’m coming” – the comma is correct in the USA.
I use a comma, colons are for lists of things.
@cherrie,
cherrie wrote:
I wouldn't use either of them.
Cherrie, you have a very bad habit of commenting but not providing an answer. This is not helpful to learners of English as a second language.
It would be better if you keep your comments to yourself.
@tanguatlay,
Quote:Cherrie, you have a very bad habit of commenting but not providing an answer. This is not helpful to learners of English as a second language.
It would be better if you keep your comments to yourself.
Miss Koh Elaine, you should eschew your colon and could omit the comma.
And pay no heed to izzy, it doesn't know the difference between solvency and liquidity.
https://www.gsbe.co.uk/grammar-the-colon.html
Quote:Announcing Quotations
The colon can also be used to announce quotations, but only when preceded by an independent clause (one that can be read as a complete
sentence) –
When asked if it was easy to start her own business, she laughed: ‘You
must be joking!’ (Correct)
When asked if it was easy to start her own business, she said: ‘You must
be joking!’ (Commonly encountered but incorrect)1
The colon in the second example should be replaced with either a comma –
When asked if it was easy to start her own business, she said, ‘You must be joking!’
or nothing at all –
When asked if it was easy to start her own business, she said ‘You must be joking!’
It's standard here in Canada to use the comma. I've never seen the colon used in speech except for the following:
Q: What is your name?
A: It's Ralph.
@ascribbler,
You really have problems.
Get a life you sad little man.
Until then you will remain one of the internet's dullest people.
@tanguatlay,
Tanguatlay - it should be a comma. Please ignore Scribble - in over 800 books I've read the past two years, I've never seen a colon used in a conversation. That's not including the thousands upon thousands of books I've read prior. I've also never seen nothing in place of a comma. Look at the books you're reading and you'll see it's the most common form (even if there are others allowed) to introduce a remark. The colon is also used in theatre/acting scripts to indicate whose lines they are, but they aren't novels.
@tanguatlay,
tanguatlay wrote:
cherrie wrote:
I wouldn't use either of them.
Then what would you use? Please share.
I wouldn't use anything there. John said "I'm coming".
@tanguatlay,
tanguatlay wrote:
cherrie wrote:
I wouldn't use either of them.
Cherrie, you have a very bad habit of commenting but not providing an answer. This is not helpful to learners of English as a second language.
It would be better if you keep your comments to yourself.
Really? I don't know how this would be a habit. I had to go back almost 6 months to find the last time I responded to you, so it's hardly an habitual thing. And I certainly wont be doing it again.
@cherrie,
cherrie wrote:
tanguatlay wrote:
cherrie wrote:
I wouldn't use either of them.
Then what would you use? Please share.
I wouldn't use anything there. John said "I'm coming".
I have never seen a dialogue without a colon or comma next to the verb, as in your example. I also have not read such a rule. Can you let me know where I can find that example sentence of yours? I am always keen to learn. Thanks.
@tanguatlay,
Quote:I have never seen a dialogue without a colon or comma next to the verb, as in your example.
Neither had I. Then I did some searching and found this:
Quote: Opinion is divided on this use of the comma. It is traditional to use one when announcing a quotation –
Socrates said, ‘No one does wrong willingly’.
but the modern tendency is to do without it –
Socrates said ‘No one does wrong willingly’.
Grammar and Style in British English: A Comprehensive Guide for Students, Writers and Academics
cherrie may be referring to this "modern tendency", but I have never noticed this usage, only the traditional way with a comma (not a colon) following the verb.
Notice that in ascribbler's reply (from the same source that I quoted), this usage is also mentioned but I have not seen it being done in formal writing:
Quote:When asked if it was easy to start her own business, she laughed: ‘You
must be joking!’ (Correct)
When asked if it was easy to start her own business, she said: ‘You must
be joking!’ (Commonly encountered but incorrect)1
The colon in the second example should be replaced with either a comma –
When asked if it was easy to start her own business, she said, ‘You must be joking!’
or nothing at all –
When asked if it was easy to start her own business, she said ‘You must be joking!’
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