Colon or comma for direct quotations?
I've seen two ways to introduce direction quotations:
1) The host made an announcement, "You are all staying for dinner."
2) The host made an announcement: "You are all staying for dinner."
Is one more correct than the other? Is it a matter of style? The only thing I can find on it is that if the quotation contains two or more sentences, most writers introduce it with a colon.
commas quotations colon
asked 2 days ago
user27343user27343
245
add a comment |
I've seen two ways to introduce direction quotations:
1) The host made an announcement, "You are all staying for dinner."
2) The host made an announcement: "You are all staying for dinner."
Is one more correct than the other? Is it a matter of style? The only thing I can find on it is that if the quotation contains two or more sentences, most writers introduce it with a colon.
commas quotations colon
asked 2 days ago
user27343user27343
245
1
It's stylistic. Typically, however, commas are used with dialogue exchanges. (And the number of sentences quoted makes no difference.)
– Jason Bassford
2 days ago
add a comment |
I've seen two ways to introduce direction quotations:
1) The host made an announcement, "You are all staying for dinner."
2) The host made an announcement: "You are all staying for dinner."
Is one more correct than the other? Is it a matter of style? The only thing I can find on it is that if the quotation contains two or more sentences, most writers introduce it with a colon.
commas quotations colon
asked 2 days ago
user27343user27343
245
I've seen two ways to introduce direction quotations:
1) The host made an announcement, "You are all staying for dinner."
2) The host made an announcement: "You are all staying for dinner."
Is one more correct than the other? Is it a matter of style? The only thing I can find on it is that if the quotation contains two or more sentences, most writers introduce it with a colon.
commas quotations colon
commas quotations colon
asked 2 days ago
user27343user27343
245
asked 2 days ago
user27343user27343
245
edited 2 days ago
user27343
asked 2 days ago
user27343user27343
245
asked 2 days ago
user27343user27343
245
asked 2 days ago
user27343user27343
245
245
1
It's stylistic. Typically, however, commas are used with dialogue exchanges. (And the number of sentences quoted makes no difference.)
– Jason Bassford
2 days ago
add a comment |
1
It's stylistic. Typically, however, commas are used with dialogue exchanges. (And the number of sentences quoted makes no difference.)
– Jason Bassford
2 days ago
1
1
It's stylistic. Typically, however, commas are used with dialogue exchanges. (And the number of sentences quoted makes no difference.)
– Jason Bassford
2 days ago
It's stylistic. Typically, however, commas are used with dialogue exchanges. (And the number of sentences quoted makes no difference.)
– Jason Bassford
2 days ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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Commas are typically used in general writing.
Colons are mostly used in script writing.
It is just styles that are associated with different kinds of writing. There is no real rule about using colon with multi sentence quote, either.
answered 2 days ago
Bella SwanBella Swan
3686
New contributor
Bella Swan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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1
Thanks. I got that rule from the Grammar Book colon section: Rule 7. If a quotation contains two or more sentences, many writers and editors introduce it with a colon rather than a comma.
– user27343
2 days ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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active
oldest
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active
oldest
votes
Commas are typically used in general writing.
Colons are mostly used in script writing.
It is just styles that are associated with different kinds of writing. There is no real rule about using colon with multi sentence quote, either.
answered 2 days ago
Bella SwanBella Swan
3686
New contributor
Bella Swan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Thanks. I got that rule from the Grammar Book colon section: Rule 7. If a quotation contains two or more sentences, many writers and editors introduce it with a colon rather than a comma.
– user27343
2 days ago
add a comment |
Commas are typically used in general writing.
Colons are mostly used in script writing.
It is just styles that are associated with different kinds of writing. There is no real rule about using colon with multi sentence quote, either.
answered 2 days ago
Bella SwanBella Swan
3686
New contributor
Bella Swan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Thanks. I got that rule from the Grammar Book colon section: Rule 7. If a quotation contains two or more sentences, many writers and editors introduce it with a colon rather than a comma.
– user27343
2 days ago
add a comment |
Commas are typically used in general writing.
Colons are mostly used in script writing.
It is just styles that are associated with different kinds of writing. There is no real rule about using colon with multi sentence quote, either.
answered 2 days ago
Bella SwanBella Swan
3686
New contributor
Bella Swan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Commas are typically used in general writing.
Colons are mostly used in script writing.
It is just styles that are associated with different kinds of writing. There is no real rule about using colon with multi sentence quote, either.
answered 2 days ago
Bella SwanBella Swan
3686
New contributor
Bella Swan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 2 days ago
answered 2 days ago
Bella SwanBella Swan
3686
New contributor
Bella Swan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 days ago
Bella SwanBella Swan
3686
answered 2 days ago
Bella SwanBella Swan
3686
3686
New contributor
Bella Swan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Bella Swan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Bella Swan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Thanks. I got that rule from the Grammar Book colon section: Rule 7. If a quotation contains two or more sentences, many writers and editors introduce it with a colon rather than a comma.
– user27343
2 days ago
add a comment |
1
Thanks. I got that rule from the Grammar Book colon section: Rule 7. If a quotation contains two or more sentences, many writers and editors introduce it with a colon rather than a comma.
– user27343
2 days ago
1
1
Thanks. I got that rule from the Grammar Book colon section: Rule 7. If a quotation contains two or more sentences, many writers and editors introduce it with a colon rather than a comma.
– user27343
2 days ago
Thanks. I got that rule from the Grammar Book colon section: Rule 7. If a quotation contains two or more sentences, many writers and editors introduce it with a colon rather than a comma.
– user27343
2 days ago
add a comment |
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1
It's stylistic. Typically, however, commas are used with dialogue exchanges. (And the number of sentences quoted makes no difference.)
– Jason Bassford
2 days ago