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Mon 7 Nov, 2022 03:44 pm
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 poisonous, you know.”
“Oh,” Argrave nodded, enlightened. He was content to stay silent, let her think him incautious. As something came to mind, he asked curiously, “Do you actually have any poison on hand? Potent poison.”
From what I know gestured and nodded are to be considered action tags. So there should be a period in both of these cases. Is this a mistake and should it be gotten rid off? Or it’s not something to fuss about.
@SassyCanoeWizard,
SassyCanoeWizard wrote:
From what I know gestured and nodded are to be considered action tags. So there should be a period in both of these cases. Is this a mistake and should it be gotten rid off? Or it’s not something to fuss about.
I'd say it's not something to fuss about.
@Mame,
In all my years of teaching Secondary school English I have never come across the term "action tag."
Me, either, but it exists. I googled it.
@Mame,
I didn't. It might be a new thing.
@izzythepush,
Like anyone speaks or writes good English these days anyway. There are some, of course, but I see things like
'her and Larry went to the store' in journals, newspapers, novels all the time.
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