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Goronsky Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Quoted Dialogue for Phone Numbers in Fiction
In quoted dialogue, does this work for telephone numbers? This is the closest (and clearest) alternative I can conjure up.
Jake said, "Louise's telephone number is six-eight-one,
seven-four-five, eight-six-oh-four."
Jake said, "Louise's telephone number is six-eight-one,
seven-four-five, eight-six-oh-four."
Top answer
The hyphens look too fussy for me. ( Why not just write it as 681 745-8604? )
- The hyphens look too fussy for me.
- ( Why not just write it as 681 745-8604?
- )
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4 Answers
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The hyphens look too fussy for me.
( Why not just write it as 681 745-8604? )
( Why not just write it as 681 745-8604? )
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I don't see why numbers can't be used, although I suppose the smart thing to do would be to check on what other writers do.
Are you writing a novel that will be edited and published?
Or are you perhaps writing simply for your own amusement?
Clive
Are you writing a novel that will be edited and published?
Or are you perhaps writing simply for your own amusement?
Clive
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Helping a friend of mine who is a copy editor. She asked me about it, and I had never seen this done before—not to say that it hasn't been done. I mapped out several different scenarios on paper to determine which option would be the most readily graspable, mentally, to the reader—other than, of course, the numbers (which she says is a no-no). That was the most viable solution I could come up with
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