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Tamguatlay Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Why does the reporter use a colon?

Said Mr Babu: "I shouted for help."

The above sentence is from a local newspaper.

I was taught to use a comma before what is spoken. Why does the reporter use a colon?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

I was taught to use a comma before what is spoken. Thanks. Hi Tamguatlay, Short answer: Yes, I think comma usage is more common here.

— Dokterjokkebrok

  • I was taught to use a comma before what is spoken.
  • Thanks.
  • Hi Tamguatlay, Short answer: Yes, I think comma usage is more common here.
  • Long answer: Newspapers tend to adopt a rather strict style guide for their reporters and journalists to use in their articles.
  • Ocassionally, influential style guides from major newspapers will not see eye to eye with regard to certain topics (punctuation, capitalization, sentence length, etc).
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1 Answers
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tamguatlaySaid Mr Babu: "I shouted for help."The above sentence is from a local newspaper.I was taught to use a comma before what is spoken. Why does the reporter use a colon?Thanks.
Hi Tamguatlay,

Short answer:

Yes, I think comma usage is more common here.

Long answer:

Newspapers tend to adopt a rather strict
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