Writing time in dialog

CC.Allen · Dec 21, 2011

I know there must be a few threads here already... I am searching for "writing", "time", "dialog", ":00", etc. it seems that I can't find the of the apporipriate way to search for viewpoints on how to write time within dialog. I found one thread reagarding military time, but I'm just thinking normal old AM & PM time.

Could someone point me in the correct direction? Thanks!!

Bufty · Dec 21, 2011

Listening to someone saying it is as good a starting point as any. Say it yourself, perhaps? Then write it down.

Al Stevens · Dec 21, 2011

Some style guides specify that all numbers in dialogue should be spelled out.

Grunkins · Dec 21, 2011

According to the Chicago Manual of Style:
"Times of day in even, half, and quarter hours are usually spelled out in text matter:
-The directors expected the meeting to continue until half past three.
-He left the office at at a quarter of four.
But numerals are used (with zeros for even hours) when the exact moment of time is to be emphasized:
-The program is televised at 2:30 in the afternoon.
-If we don't eat dinner, we can catch the 6:20 train."

I should have quoted more, but I already put the book away. It mentioned "five o'clock" being used when appropriate. Sorry I'm too lazy to quote that portion.

Hope that helps.

CC.Allen · Dec 21, 2011

Bufty said:
Listening to someone saying it is as good a starting point as any. Say it yourself, perhaps? Then write it down.

Hey bufty, as Al and Grunkins have said after your post, I always read that numbers of any type, are written out as words, when in dialong.

But, following your train of thought, if I say aloud to myself, "I will be there at 5:40" ... that is what I hear, the number 5, colon, and the numbers four and zero. I mean I know I don't actually "hear" that, but in my mind I visualize a digital clock.

When I write dialog, unless it is an exact hour (which I tend to write as "number o'clock"), I find that I strongly want to write the digital clock version of time.

I was hoping to find a thread where others have discussed this. My big question is if I 'break norm' and write the digital clock into my dialog, how offsetting is that to average readers? & If I do this, should I also do it for the even hours as well?

Ok, now that I have written this out, I assume that I will have three posts pointing me to other threads.

doesn't it always work that way.

Thanks again!

Al Stevens · Dec 21, 2011

CC.Allen said:
My big question is if I 'break norm' and write the digital clock into my dialog, how offsetting is that to average readers?

And the big answer is, use whatever your editor wants. If you don't know in advance, you will later.

Jamesaritchie · Dec 21, 2011

No one ever has or ever will say "It's 10:10."

It's impossible. We all speak words, not numerals. This is precisely why we have words that represent numerals.

FennelGiraffe · Dec 21, 2011

In dialog, writing time out in words is an opportunity:

"He'll be here at three fifteen."
"He'll be here at a quarter past three."
"He'll be here a bit after three."
"He'll be here around three-something."

Those are four different characters with four different voices.

blacbird · Dec 21, 2011

Render it:

1. in the verbiage that the speaker would use

and

2. punctuate that the same way you would in non-dialogue narrative.

Don't overcomplicate matters.

caw

CC.Allen · Dec 22, 2011

blacbird said:
Render it:

1. in the verbiage that the speaker would use

and

2. punctuate that the same way you would in non-dialogue narrative.

Don't overcomplicate matters.

caw

OK, guys... I may be having an epiphany or something…this has been driving me crazy , but I think that I kinda am getting it. One example is cut directly from my MS. I wrote & have felt all along that the following is fine (it’s a press secretary doing an introduction, before the governor begins a speech.):

Bella said, “Good morning. Today is year 26, day 53. The current time is 11:00 AM. It is my great honor to welcome to the podium on this day, Governor Bartlett. Mr. Governor.”

I have taken this paragraph and re-written it with real words. I hate writing it this way, but I believe that I may prefer to read it this way:

Bella said, “Good morning. Today is year twenty-six, day fifty-three. The current time is eleven am. It is my great honor to welcome to the podium on this day, Governor Bartlett. Mr. Governor.”

Am I correct, is the second way the correct way. Is this more readable, even though I don’t like writing it this way?

Or have I got it all together wrong?????

And completely forgetting right and wrong, it seems the bottom line is what is more readable. Is one or the other of these easier for you to read?

Thanks again!

bonitakale · Dec 22, 2011

CC.Allen said:
OK, guys... I may be having an epiphany or something…this has been driving me crazy , but I think that I kinda am getting it. One example is cut directly from my MS. I wrote & have felt all along that the following is fine (it’s a press secretary doing an introduction, before the governor begins a speech.):Bella said, “Good morning. Today is year 26, day 53. The current time is 11:00 AM. It is my great honor to welcome to the podium on this day, Governor Bartlett. Mr. Governor.”

I have taken this paragraph and re-written it with real words. I hate writing it this way, but I believe that I may prefer to read it this way:Bella said, “Good morning. Today is year twenty-six, day fifty-three. The current time is eleven am. It is my great honor to welcome to the podium on this day, Governor Bartlett. Mr. Governor.”

Am I correct, is the second way the correct way. Is this more readable, even though I don’t like writing it this way?

Or have I got it all together wrong?????

And completely forgetting right and wrong, it seems the bottom line is what is more readable. Is one or the other of these easier for you to read?

Thanks again!

I find the first one perfectly easy to read (except that you need a period after the a in lower-case a.m.), as I do the Christie title, The 4:50 from Paddington.

Generally, I prefer time in numerals, but that's me. You do it the way you like, and let the editor worry about house style later. The only ones you have to spell out are noon, midnight, and such things as "a quarter to ten."

Okay, I wrote that, and then checked a couple of books from my shelves. They spelled everything out. Funny, I never remembered them that way. So maybe that is the way.

But the years--we don't spell out twenty eleven, do we? So why would we spell out 26? And if it's "Day something," there are various standards for numbers in general that could apply. "He came on day ten, and again on day eleven. He came every day until day 38, when he missed."

doubt · Dec 22, 2011

Personally, I prefer and follow styles that say to use numerals. I read the second example of Bella saying all those numbers, and it was cringe-worthy, and went slower. I had to imagine the number after reading the word. It's because I don't check my alarm clock/watch and see words. I see numbers.

Susan Coffin · Dec 22, 2011

Number and time in dialogue are always written out:

"I'll meet you at ten tomorrow morning."
"Will you be there before three this afternoon?"
"Why not four a.m?"
"I can't wait for the six o'clock news!"

CC.Allen · Dec 23, 2011

Thanks again everyone! I've several places where I have stings of specific timetables. And I just don't like the correct way... Hmmm, maybe I can rewrite these sections to not have so many times that close together... Oh well, I will see.

But I sure do appreciate all of your help once more.

Writing time in dialog

CC.Allen

Aim twice, Shoot once...

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

Al Stevens

Grunkins

Grand adventurer of the couch

CC.Allen

Aim twice, Shoot once...

Al Stevens

Jamesaritchie

FennelGiraffe

It's green they say

blacbird

CC.Allen

Aim twice, Shoot once...

bonitakale

doubt

Susan Coffin

Tell it like it Is

CC.Allen

Aim twice, Shoot once...