When to use semicolon before quotation marks?












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I thought it should be a comma between "says/said he" and following quotation mark, like this.




"It is a good day, " says he, "I like it."




However, I happened to find different usage in Chapter one of Treason Island which reads:




"This is a handy cove," says he, at length ; "and a pleasant sittyated
grog-shop. Much company, mate? "



My father told him no, very little company, the more was the pity.



"Well, then," said he," this is the
berth for me. Here you, matey," he cried to the man who trundled the
barrow ; " bring up alongside and help up my chest. I'll stay here a
bit," he continued. " I'm a plain man ; rum and bacon and eggs is what
I want, and that head up there for to watch ships off. What you mought
call me? You mought call me captain. Oh, I see what you're at—there ;"
and he threw down three or four gold pieces on the threshold. "You can
tell me when I've worked through that," says he, looking as fierce as
a commander.




You can see that there is semicolon usage like this




"This is a handy cove," says he, at length ; "and ... "




and there is comma usage as well




"Well, then," said he," this is ..."




Since different usages in close paragraphs, it doesn't look like a slip of pen. So, what's the grammar rule? When to use semicolon before quotation marks?









share



























    0















    I thought it should be a comma between "says/said he" and following quotation mark, like this.




    "It is a good day, " says he, "I like it."




    However, I happened to find different usage in Chapter one of Treason Island which reads:




    "This is a handy cove," says he, at length ; "and a pleasant sittyated
    grog-shop. Much company, mate? "



    My father told him no, very little company, the more was the pity.



    "Well, then," said he," this is the
    berth for me. Here you, matey," he cried to the man who trundled the
    barrow ; " bring up alongside and help up my chest. I'll stay here a
    bit," he continued. " I'm a plain man ; rum and bacon and eggs is what
    I want, and that head up there for to watch ships off. What you mought
    call me? You mought call me captain. Oh, I see what you're at—there ;"
    and he threw down three or four gold pieces on the threshold. "You can
    tell me when I've worked through that," says he, looking as fierce as
    a commander.




    You can see that there is semicolon usage like this




    "This is a handy cove," says he, at length ; "and ... "




    and there is comma usage as well




    "Well, then," said he," this is ..."




    Since different usages in close paragraphs, it doesn't look like a slip of pen. So, what's the grammar rule? When to use semicolon before quotation marks?









    share

























      0












      0








      0








      I thought it should be a comma between "says/said he" and following quotation mark, like this.




      "It is a good day, " says he, "I like it."




      However, I happened to find different usage in Chapter one of Treason Island which reads:




      "This is a handy cove," says he, at length ; "and a pleasant sittyated
      grog-shop. Much company, mate? "



      My father told him no, very little company, the more was the pity.



      "Well, then," said he," this is the
      berth for me. Here you, matey," he cried to the man who trundled the
      barrow ; " bring up alongside and help up my chest. I'll stay here a
      bit," he continued. " I'm a plain man ; rum and bacon and eggs is what
      I want, and that head up there for to watch ships off. What you mought
      call me? You mought call me captain. Oh, I see what you're at—there ;"
      and he threw down three or four gold pieces on the threshold. "You can
      tell me when I've worked through that," says he, looking as fierce as
      a commander.




      You can see that there is semicolon usage like this




      "This is a handy cove," says he, at length ; "and ... "




      and there is comma usage as well




      "Well, then," said he," this is ..."




      Since different usages in close paragraphs, it doesn't look like a slip of pen. So, what's the grammar rule? When to use semicolon before quotation marks?









      share














      I thought it should be a comma between "says/said he" and following quotation mark, like this.




      "It is a good day, " says he, "I like it."




      However, I happened to find different usage in Chapter one of Treason Island which reads:




      "This is a handy cove," says he, at length ; "and a pleasant sittyated
      grog-shop. Much company, mate? "



      My father told him no, very little company, the more was the pity.



      "Well, then," said he," this is the
      berth for me. Here you, matey," he cried to the man who trundled the
      barrow ; " bring up alongside and help up my chest. I'll stay here a
      bit," he continued. " I'm a plain man ; rum and bacon and eggs is what
      I want, and that head up there for to watch ships off. What you mought
      call me? You mought call me captain. Oh, I see what you're at—there ;"
      and he threw down three or four gold pieces on the threshold. "You can
      tell me when I've worked through that," says he, looking as fierce as
      a commander.




      You can see that there is semicolon usage like this




      "This is a handy cove," says he, at length ; "and ... "




      and there is comma usage as well




      "Well, then," said he," this is ..."




      Since different usages in close paragraphs, it doesn't look like a slip of pen. So, what's the grammar rule? When to use semicolon before quotation marks?







      grammar semicolon quotation-marks





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      asked 5 mins ago









      Morgan ChengMorgan Cheng

      128116




      128116






















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