| These rules are the basic to good syntax. There are
no "Exceptions"! (Source, Writer's Inc. A Student Handbook for
Writing and Learning. Copyright 1996, D.C. Heath and Company)
| A noun that replaces a proper noun when addressing someone should always
be capitalized. For example: |
- Victoria is always "Mother," not "mother." But she is Nick's mother.
- Jarrod is "Big Brother" when Nick calls him that, but he is Nick's big
brother.
- Silas always says "Yes, Sir." or Yes, Ma'am"
|
Periods and commas are always inside quotations, period.
|
| Exclamation points and question marks are inside quotations when they
punctuate the quote, outside when they are part of the sentence. This mean that they will
be inside the quotes for all dialog, and outside only when a quoted phrase is part of a
question. |
- "Is this all for dinner?"
- Where did he get that phrase "Boy Howdy!"? Note: this should be the only time
that punctuation appears on both sides of a quotes. In normal dialog there should never be
punctuation on both sides.
|
| Commas should end a sentence inside a quote if the person who is saying
the line is mentioned. For example: |
- "Now, Pretty Lady," Jarrod said, with an ironical smile.
|
| If the sentence continues after the break, then the first word of the new
phrase is not capitalized, otherwise it is. |
- "Now, Pretty Lady," Jarrod said, "what are you doing up so late?"
- "Nick, that'll be enough," Jarrod said, looking irritated yet keeping a calm
voice. "Keep your voice down!"
|
| If, in dialog, an individual's statements create more than one paragraph,
do not put a quotations marks at the end of any paragraphs but the last. The marks will
always go at the beginning of each paragraph. |
" Gentleman," Jarrod began his summing up with a somber air, "the
testimony you have heard over the last few days has told quite a tale. Now, it is time for
you to make your weighty decision. But before you go into that room, I want to remind you
of a few facts.
"On September 6th of this year...."
(And so on. Each paragraph, until Jarrod would be interrupted by someone else, would
not end with a quotation mark.)
|
Ellipses - don't over use them! Three dots only are used for pauses, or
letting dialog tail off...
|
| Abbreviations end with a period. It should always be Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.
(But only one period at the end of a sentence.) If you don't want to type them while you
are writing, then please do a search and replace on your document so that the periods are
there in the appropriate places. |
Watch the overuse of the plural possessive. It is the Barkley's ranch,
but the ranch belongs to the Barkleys, not to the Barkley's.
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