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Ryansamturner Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Review.
I have written the below:
'What do you mean? What can't she find?
'A heartbeat. She can't find a heartbeat.'
She just about managed to finish that sentence before breaking down into tears
The question I have, is that after the speach I quote 'she just about managed to finish that sentence', where in fact 'A heartbeat. She can't find a heartbeat', is two sentences.
Can you suggest anything to overcome this ambiguity?
'What do you mean? What can't she find?
'A heartbeat. She can't find a heartbeat.'
She just about managed to finish that sentence before breaking down into tears
The question I have, is that after the speach I quote 'she just about managed to finish that sentence', where in fact 'A heartbeat. She can't find a heartbeat', is two sentences.
Can you suggest anything to overcome this ambiguity?
Top answer
ryansamturner Can you suggest anything to overcome this ambiguity? No. Moreover, it is not necessary to be so precise.
- ryansamturner Can you suggest anything to overcome this ambiguity?
- No.
- Moreover, it is not necessary to be so precise.
- The reader will not be bothered in the slightest, because the ambiguity is completely trivial.
- CJ
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7 Answers
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ryansamturnerCan you suggest anything to overcome this ambiguity?No. Moreover, it is not necessary to be so precise. The reader will not be bothered in the slightest, because the ambiguity is completely trivial.
CJ
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Thanks. Maybe I am being too picky.
For my own sanity though, I would like to sort it. Maybe a comma after heartbeat would do the trick.
For my own sanity though, I would like to sort it. Maybe a comma after heartbeat would do the trick.
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ryansamturnertoo pickyI'd say "obsessive".
In a narrative style such as this you can be a l00
My OCD certainly gets exaggerated when it comes to my writing.
'Mark, she can't find anything,' she told me.
'Who can't?'
'The midwife. She said there's nothing there.'
'What do you mean? What can't she find?'
'A heartbeat; she can't find a heartbeat'
Sarah just about managed.....................
'A heartbeat, she can't find a heartbeat'
Sarah just about m
'Mark, she can't find anything,' she told me.
'Who can't?'
'The midwife. She said there's nothing there.'
'What do you mean? What can't she find?'
'A heartbeat; she can't find a heartbeat'
Sarah just about managed.....................
'A heartbeat, she can't find a heartbeat'
Sarah just about m
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Do you think the semi colon is okay?
The only thing I'm worried about is the sentence a couple of lines above it:
'The midwife. She said there's nothing there'.
'A heartbeat; she can't find a heartbeat.
They are very similar stylistically, but would it be okay with the semi colon.
The only thing I'm worried about is the sentence a couple of lines above it:
'The midwife. She said there's nothing there'.
'A heartbeat; she can't find a heartbeat.
They are very similar stylistically, but would it be okay with the semi colon.
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ryansamturnerDo you think the semi colon is okay?Yes. I've already said that it's better than a comma, which was your suggestion.
ryansamturner-That's why I recommended leaving it w
'The midwife. She said there's nothing there'.
'A heartbeat; she can't find a heartbeat.
They are very similar stylistically, ...
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Thanks for all your help on this. I think I'm going to stick with the semicolon.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
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