• Basic Writing questions is not a crit forum. All crits belong in Share Your Work

Short question on dialogue

Status
Not open for further replies.

Tinman

Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 17, 2012
Messages
418
Reaction score
39
Location
Southeast Missouri
Hi all.

When writing dialogue, how do you handle someone speaking individual letters? For instance, say a young student was reciting his ABC's. Would you write it "ABC", "A-B-C", or some other way? Thanks!!!
 

Kerosene

Your Pixie Queen
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 29, 2012
Messages
5,762
Reaction score
1,045
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
"A. B. C."

or

"A-B-C."

Your choice. I like the second, the first sounds more strict. And I've seen the second used more often. Make sure you tell the reader that they spelled it out.
 

rwm4768

practical experience, FTW
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Messages
15,472
Reaction score
767
Location
Missouri
I would use the dashes. They look better, and I've seen it done in novels before.
 

Ohgodaspider

Banned
Flounced
Joined
Jun 2, 2012
Messages
151
Reaction score
16
Location
Maine, USA
I've heard the letters are supposed to be spelled out. J would be Jay. Z would Zee. Like that.
 

Graphite

Hodor. Hodor. Hodor.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 28, 2012
Messages
178
Reaction score
30
Location
Spaaaaaace
It'd be way too confusing to spell the letters out. Wye ie eh aitch?
 

Tinman

Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 17, 2012
Messages
418
Reaction score
39
Location
Southeast Missouri
You might think about "A...B...C..." as well.

Brian, thanks!!! To me, the difference between a hyphen and ellipses is the amount of time separating the letters or words - - the ellipses is longer. If the character was reciting her ABC's, I might use the ellipses, maybe. Although I used the ABC example above, in this particular instance, the character is using an abbreviation for a name. B-S-C. Behavioral Resources Center. I think the hyphens might work better. But thanks again.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.