FOR SALE sign in quotes?

Kerry Ann · May 10, 2013

I swear, I am looking all these questions up. I'm just not finding any clear answers.

excerpt:

For sale signs littered the lawns....

For sale in quotes? I've seen it with and without, bold and in italics. Can't find it in my grammar book.

Help?

Bufty · May 10, 2013

For Sale signs...

I'd be more concerned about 'littered the lawns'.

Ken · May 10, 2013

... am not really sure myself.
It may get hyphenated: For-sale.
That might at least be an option.
And if you did that there'd be no need to set it apart in any other way.

King Neptune · May 10, 2013

I would use quotes or all caps; I would want to do something to distinguish the sign from the narrative.

Bufty · May 11, 2013

This trivia is really not worth worrying about. Simply make sure the reader understands what you have written. :Hug2:

It's nether a grammar nor a syntax issue and if you've seen it different ways doesn't that maybe suggest there is no 'correct' way?

For Sale signs littered the lawns...or... were evident in front of each house (or whatever you wish to say about the signs) --- is crystal clear to anyone with half a brain.

George was busy hammering a For Sale sign into the middle of his lawn. :Shrug:

Ken · May 11, 2013

Kerry Ann said:
littered

... yep.
They're obnoxious and annoying alright.

Chase · May 11, 2013

Kerry Ann said:
For sale signs littered the lawns.

'Cause misery loves company, I tend to obsess over such small stuff myself (maybe the reason I don't write as many words as most). I like KN's all capital letters; it captures the wording of the sign across the street.

I also like your a-litter-ation.

Bufty · May 11, 2013

I've no objection to ....littered the lawns...either. Truly

Susan Coffin · May 11, 2013

In fiction, quotes are used for dialogue only. You could put it in all caps, but there really is no need to set it apart other than putting For Sale signs.

From the sentence you wrote, I am seeing For Sale signs laying all over the lawns. Do you mean the lawns all had For Sale signs or is someone putting up a For Sale sign, like many people in his neighborhood have done?

FOR SALE sign in quotes?

Kerry Ann

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

Ken

King Neptune

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

Ken

Chase

It Takes All of Us to End Racism

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

Susan Coffin

Tell it like it Is