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IgorZ Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Two quick screenplay grammar questions
I am writing a screenplay and I have two questions I seem to have a real difficult time finding the answers to. First, if someone is responding to a question with an answer do you use qoutes/capitalize or not? Here is the dialogue with how I currently have it:
CHRIS
Would it speed up the process if I told you?
ALICE
Absolutely.
CHRIS
Then the answer is “No”.
Second, what is the correct way to combine a person's name and the verb "has"? Again, here it is in context:
ALICE
You have half an hour, tops, before
Sarah's got big trouble on her hands.
Thank you very much for anyone who responds!!!!
All the best,
Igor
CHRIS
Would it speed up the process if I told you?
ALICE
Absolutely.
CHRIS
Then the answer is “No”.
Second, what is the correct way to combine a person's name and the verb "has"? Again, here it is in context:
ALICE
You have half an hour, tops, before
Sarah's got big trouble on her hands.
Thank you very much for anyone who responds!!!!
All the best,
Igor
Top answer
Sarah's is absolutely correct. As for "No", I imagine you'd get five different answers from five different people. " But it's not really a quote, is it?
- Sarah's is absolutely correct.
- As for "No", I imagine you'd get five different answers from five different people.
- " But it's not really a quote, is it?
- Still, you wouldn't write: Then the answer is no.
- I like your version best.
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4 Answers
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Sarah's is absolutely correct.
As for "No", I imagine you'd get five different answers from five different people. If "No" were a true quotation, you'd write: Then the answer is, "No." But it's not really a quote, is it? Still, you wouldn't write: Then the answer is no. I like your version best.
As for "No", I imagine you'd get five different answers from five different people. If "No" were a true quotation, you'd write: Then the answer is, "No." But it's not really a quote, is it? Still, you wouldn't write: Then the answer is no. I like your version best.
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the "No" issue is a matter of style and what you've done looks fine,
the other point is style too - what you've written is fine, but if you want very natural dialogue I'd go for "You've got half an hour, tops"
the other point is style too - what you've written is fine, but if you want very natural dialogue I'd go for "You've got half an hour, tops"
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Dear Pedant,
Thank you so much for your response! I had the inkling that the issue was stylistic, however, I just wanted to make sure. Those who read these things look for any reason to eliminate a script, so one could never be too finicky about the grammar. Again, thank you for your help.
All the best,
Igor
Thank you so much for your response! I had the inkling that the issue was stylistic, however, I just wanted to make sure. Those who read these things look for any reason to eliminate a script, so one could never be too finicky about the grammar. Again, thank you for your help.
All the best,
Igor
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Dear Suzi,
Thank you for your response! I think your point is very beneficial because I tend to be a bit too long-winded in my dialogue. Tightening it up is definitely what the doctor ordered.
All the best,
Igor
Thank you for your response! I think your point is very beneficial because I tend to be a bit too long-winded in my dialogue. Tightening it up is definitely what the doctor ordered.
All the best,
Igor
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