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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Commas and Colons for Quotations?
Alright, I'm really confused.
Should I use a comma or colon to tell that someone's about to speak?
Example.
Before I could leave, Jack spoke again:
"Blah, blah, blah," he said.
I think the colon's the way to go because I don't like the idea of ending a sentence with a comma.
Before I could leave, Jack spoke again,
"Blah, blah, blah," he said.
That's not right, is it? Hmm, maybe it is. Help?
Should I use a comma or colon to tell that someone's about to speak?
Example.
Before I could leave, Jack spoke again:
"Blah, blah, blah," he said.
I think the colon's the way to go because I don't like the idea of ending a sentence with a comma.
Before I could leave, Jack spoke again,
"Blah, blah, blah," he said.
That's not right, is it? Hmm, maybe it is. Help?
Top answer
The style guides and grammar books I have read say that both a comma and a colon are possible and correct. A comma is particularly common before a short quotation. My impression is that a comma is also used more in American English than British English.
- The style guides and grammar books I have read say that both a comma and a colon are possible and correct.
- A comma is particularly common before a short quotation.
- My impression is that a comma is also used more in American English than British English.
- " CB
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1 Answers
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The style guides and grammar books I have read say that both a comma and a colon are possible and correct. A comma is particularly common before a short quotation. My impression is that a comma is also used more in American English than British English.
He said, "Come here!"
He said: "Come here!"
CB
He said, "Come here!"
He said: "Come here!"
CB
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