Quotation marks for thoughts?

dustymonk · Aug 9, 2009

Do you use quotation marks when you are writing a character's thoughts or should you use italics?

Here is an example. Should I write:

A. "Ironic", he thought.

B. Ironic he thought.

C. Ironic he thought.

Thanks in advance! ~ d.

Bufty · Aug 9, 2009

Both, as appropriate

It's either -- Ironic, he thought. No quotes because it's not spoken.

Or "Ironic," he mumbled to himself - but that's not strictly a thought.

or better still -if the scene is in the POV of the character who is thinking, simply use italics without the 'he thought' tag.. - John watched the end of the whole charade, then turned away. Ironic.

dustymonk said:
Do you use quotation marks when you are writing a character's thoughts or should you use italics?

Here is an example. Should I write:

A. "Ironic", he thought.

B. Ironic he thought.

C. Ironic he thought.

Thanks in advance! ~ d.

Wayne K · Aug 9, 2009

How do you do internal dialogue then? I've been doing it in italics with quotation marks. I have over 700 pages of editing to do if its wrong.

dustymonk · Aug 9, 2009

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's confused! LOL

Thanks for your reply Bufty. Very helpful indeed!

Bufty · Aug 9, 2009

What exactly do you mean by internal dialogue?

This presumably isn't any help to you - http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149742

Is say the first person POV arguing with himself?

I can't see anything wrong with using italics for his alter ego or whatever, so long as it doesn't turn up in long sections because italics can get boring to read. But if the reader clearly knows it's his other side the quotes aren't needed. I know you mention internal dialogue, but is he talking aloud? Seems to be case of if it works, it works.

Wayne K said:
How do you do internal dialogue then? I've been doing it in italics with quotation marks. I have over 700 pages of editing to do if its wrong.

john barnes on toast · Aug 9, 2009

Wayne K said:
How do you do internal dialogue then? I've been doing it in italics with quotation marks. I have over 700 pages of editing to do if its wrong.

being consistent is the most important thing.

Wark · Aug 9, 2009

He thought italics were lame. "Gah, how I loathe italics," he mumbled to himself.

stuckupmyownera · Aug 9, 2009

I just use italics for internal dialogue and thoughts. Italics and quotation marks seems a little overkill to me... But John's right - the most important thing is consistency in your style. All writers have different styles, but as long as whatever you do works for your story, just keep it consistent.

Wayne K · Aug 9, 2009

Bufty said:
What exactly do you mean by internal dialogue?

This presumably isn't any help to you - http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149742

Is say the first person POV arguing with himself?

I can't see anything wrong with using italics for his alter ego or whatever, so long as it doesn't turn up in long sections because italics can get boring to read. But if the reader clearly knows it's his other side the quotes aren't needed. I know you mention internal dialogue, but is he talking aloud? Seems to be case of if it works, it works.

Its narrative nonfiction, and a good example is: I thought to myself "Forget this place." and headed for the door.

I was told that since I'm quoting internal dialogue, that I should quote it, and that I could italicize it to show that it isn't actual dialogue..

Wayne K · Aug 9, 2009

stuckupmyownera said:
but as long as whatever you do works for your story, just keep it consistent.

My wife just said this to me, again. :Hammer:

Bufty · Aug 9, 2009

To me, that bit with quotes and italics doesn't read smoothly at all.

It is not good form to rewrite other folks' stuff so please forgive my ill manners, but one alternative could be...

I made my mind up. Forget this place. Then I headed for the door.

The reader knows it's the narrator speaking and the 'thought' aspect is clear so I don't see any real need for quotes or italics in this particular illustration... but it's your choice.

Good luck.

Its narrative nonfiction, and a good example is: I thought to myself "Forget this place." and headed for the door.

I was told that since I'm quoting internal dialogue, that I should quote it, and that I could italicize it to show that it isn't actual dialogue..

Libbie · Aug 9, 2009

I've seen it done both ways. I personally think that the italics thing is easier to read cleanly, but it's your call. Whatever looks better to you.

dpaterso · Aug 9, 2009

Wark said:
He thought italics were lame. "Gah, how I loathe italics," he mumbled to himself.

Stating personal preference is all well and good, but I've read so many novels where italics are used for internal thought that this simply isn't an issue for debate. It's a tool that can be used or not used as the author wishes.

Wayne K said:
How do you do internal dialogue then? I've been doing it in italics with quotation marks. I have over 700 pages of editing to do if its wrong.

Sounds slightly odd to me, italicized thought doesn't usually need quotation marks. The italic font is already offsetting the line or paragraph from ordinary text. But maybe it works. You get to decide!

-Derek

kct webber · Aug 9, 2009

Thoughts and internal dialogue are one and the same, so far as I know. And to answer the OP, I use italics alone to set off the text. Basically, I agree with dpaterso on both points--italics are a tool to be used as needed and worthy of no strong feelings, and nearly every (3rd person) book I've ever read has internal dialogue in italics alone.

aadams73 · Aug 9, 2009

I do it this way:

Ironic, he thought.

Dawnstorm · Aug 10, 2009

dustymonk said:
Do you use quotation marks when you are writing a character's thoughts or should you use italics?

Here is an example. Should I write:

A. "Ironic", he thought.

B. Ironic he thought.

C. Ironic he thought.

Thanks in advance! ~ d.

I've seen all three, except that the comma goes inside the quotes in A. and that both B. and C. need a comma, too:

A. "Ironic," he thought.

B. Ironic, he thought.

C. Ironic, he thought.

It's my impression that with mainstream fiction you'll get C. most often, while in genre you'll get B. most often. A. is rare. You'll find it with the classics, in fairy tales, and in children's fiction - I think. I have no data to back any of this up.

Using both italics and quotationmarks seems overkill. I don't think I've ever seen that.

scarletpeaches · Aug 10, 2009

aadams73 said:
I do it this way:

Ironic, he thought.

I do it that way without the thought tag. If it's italicised (or underlined in manuscript format), it's obvious it's a thought, and providing you're not headjumping (and I hate you if you are), we know whose head we're in already, so there's no need to tell us who's doing the thinking.

dpaterso · Aug 10, 2009

Difficult to say yea or nea when there's only a snippet example like Ironic on the table. Longer lines and paragraphs might make the point more clearly.

...I throught of an old story that used italics in places and would post a sample, btu every time I read it I end up crying and can't see the screen. What a woosy sap! Must find a hankie...

-Derek

Bufty · Aug 10, 2009

Clarity is what matters.

Maybe the way you revealed the thoughts did not necessitate the use of italics to clarify them as thoughts, which I can well understand in first person.

Kathleen42 said:
I'm writing first person POV and I haven't italicized any of my character's thoughts. Now I'm all paranoid.

ETA- must be quicker on that Delete button! :Hug2:

Wayne K · Aug 10, 2009

I'm going to remove all my internal thoughts, and paint myself as an empty-headed piece of man candy.

Kathleen42 · Aug 10, 2009

Bufty said:
Clarity is what matters.

Maybe the way you revealed the thoughts did not necessitate the use of italics to clarify them as thoughts, which I can well understand in first person.

ETA- must be quicker on that Delete button!

lol I panicked, posted, and then remembered that I had a copy of High Fidelity in my desk drawer. I'm not gonna argue with Nick Hornby on writing first person so I'm good.

dustymonk · Aug 10, 2009

Thanks so much to everyone who replied to this. I have a much better understanding now.

Okay... cover me... I'm going in!

KellyAssauer · Aug 10, 2009

dustymonk said:
Do you use quotation marks when you are writing a character's thoughts or should you use italics?

dustymonk, I just had to use everything I could think of to write a scene where my not-so-mentally stable MC has a conversation with her reflection in the mirror. See the link in my sig, (it's short! 650wds) and if you like? lemme know which format does, or doesn't work for you!

We might be adrift in the same boat?

dustymonk · Aug 10, 2009

Assauer said:
dustymonk, I just had to use everything I could think of to write a scene where my not-so-mentally stable MC has a conversation with her reflection in the mirror. See the link in my sig, (it's short! 650wds) and if you like? lemme know which format does, or doesn't work for you!

We might be adrift in the same boat?

I would love to but it's asking me to enter a password.

scarletpeaches · Aug 10, 2009

Wayne K said:
I'm going to remove all my internal thoughts, and paint myself as an empty-headed piece of man candy.

Works for me.

Quotation marks for thoughts?

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