Dialogue Punctuation
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.
Top answer
SassyCanoeWizard “The tea,” she gestured. You can't do that. Those words are not a gesture.
- SassyCanoeWizard “The tea,” she gestured.
- You can't do that.
- Those words are not a gesture.
- Maybe She gestured toward the cups by her knee.
- ” SassyCanoeWizard “Oh,” Argrave nodded, enlightened.
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SassyCanoeWizard“The tea,” she gestured.
You can't do that. Those words are not a gesture. Maybe
She gestured toward the cups by her knee. "The tea," she said, and after a pause, "Snakes are poisonous, you know.”
SassyCanoeWizard“Oh,” Argrave nodded, enlightened.
Same thing. He can't nod an oh. Maybe
“O
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