Should I use a comma or full stop?

Maiah · Jul 21, 2009

Examples:

1. "I can't see her," said Mary, looking around, "nope, I still don't."

2. "I can't see her," said Mary, looking around. "Nope, I still don't."

Should I use a comma or a full stop for this dialogue?

Thanks in advance.

Ms Hollands · Jul 22, 2009

Full stop.

Maryn · Jul 22, 2009

Full stop. April beat me to it, so berets off to her!

Maryn, who's almost never first on grammar questions

Chase · Jul 22, 2009

Maiah said:
Examples:

1. "I can't see her," said Mary, looking around, "nope, I still don't."

2. "I can't see her," said Mary, looking around. "Nope, I still don't."

Should I use a comma or a full stop for this dialogue?

Thanks in advance.

April is correct, Maliah. The full stop in example 2 prevents a comma splice, because the character speaks two main clauses.

Only when the attributive interrupts one complete sentence is when we may punctuate as in example 1: "Should I use a comma," asked Maliah, "or a full stop for this dialogue?"

LOG · Jul 26, 2009

Chase said:
April is correct, Maliah. The full stop in example 2 prevents a comma splice, because the character speaks two main clauses.

Only when the attributive interrupts one complete sentence is when we may punctuate as in example 1: "Should I use a comma," asked Maliah, "or a full stop for this dialogue?"

So: "Should I use a comma," asked Maliah, with an air of confusion. "Or a full stop for this dialogue?"

That look right, once you interrupt?
Also, why no ? after comma?

Should I use a comma or full stop?

Maiah

Ms Hollands

Cow lover

Maryn

I Tried

Chase

It Takes All of Us to End Racism

LOG

Lagrangian