Quotations for names/parts of a sentence
Hi
The title of a chapter of the book I'm translating reads: An urge to exclaim "Layla" choked in his throat.
The name "Layla" is between quotations here and I can't just write "An urge to exclaim her name choked in his throat" because the name Layla definitely has to be there. It's just that I'm not sure if this is proper usage of quotation marks in English. There are many other instances where I'm required to use quotations for parts of speech which feel awkward in translation such as:
He patted his disciple on the shoulder and he prayed "May He guide your path."
Can I have just a name inside quotation marks like in the first example or does it have to be full sentences? And if only full sentences can be inside quotation marks, do I have to put a column or a comma before?
Thanks so much
Top answer
AmmonJerro Can I have just a name inside quotation marks like in the first example Yes. e. not reported speech), you need quotation marks whatever the word(s).
- AmmonJerro Can I have just a name inside quotation marks like in the first example Yes.
- e.
- not reported speech), you need quotation marks whatever the word(s).
- The fact that it's a name makes no difference.
- " If "May He guide your path" is direct speech (actual words said) then this is correct, except that many people would put a comma after "prayed".
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AmmonJerroCan I have just a name inside quotation marks like in the first example
Yes. With direct speech (i.e. not reported speech), you need quotation marks whatever the word(s). The fact that it's a name makes no difference. You could consider an exclamation mark:
An urge to exclaim "Layla!"
AmmonJerroHe patted hi
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