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Old 04-06-2006, 04:17 AM   #1
Akuma
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--!?
Just checking, but having such things as exclamation points or question marks inside dashes appropriate. I believe it to be, but if the need to correct me is here, tell me what to do instead.

Example:
You think life’s been tough on you--you!--because you're alone in the world?
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Old 04-06-2006, 05:45 AM   #2
maestrowork
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maestrowork is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmaestrowork is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmaestrowork is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmaestrowork is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmaestrowork is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmaestrowork is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmaestrowork is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmaestrowork is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmaestrowork is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmaestrowork is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmaestrowork is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Get rid of that exclamation mark!
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Old 04-06-2006, 05:50 AM   #3
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veinglory is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsveinglory is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsveinglory is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsveinglory is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsveinglory is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsveinglory is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsveinglory is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsveinglory is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsveinglory is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsveinglory is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsveinglory is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
I have no idea what is correct but I wouldn't have a problem with that sentence because the meaning is clear and removing the ! would change it.
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Old 04-06-2006, 06:14 AM   #4
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Wink
I was taught not to use both. I think the exclamation mark should go.
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Old 04-06-2006, 08:31 AM   #5
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Yah, exclamation marks are used way too often! The only time I would use them is in fiction dialogue.

Anyway, the exclamation mark goes inside quotation marks when it is part of the quoted material: "I tell you, if you use exclamation marks too much I'm gonna pull my hair out!"

The exclamation mark goes outside quotations when it is not part of the quoted material: You really must read the book "Why Exclamation Marks are so Awful"!
Last edited by veronie; 04-06-2006 at 08:43 AM.
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Old 04-06-2006, 08:40 AM   #6
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katiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
In this instance, I'd rather see the second "you" italicized rather than following it with an exclamation point.

But, I have no idea whether the point is grammatically right or wrong in the first place.
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Old 04-06-2006, 08:47 AM   #7
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trumancoyote is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstrumancoyote is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstrumancoyote is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstrumancoyote is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstrumancoyote is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstrumancoyote is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstrumancoyote is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstrumancoyote is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstrumancoyote is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstrumancoyote is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstrumancoyote is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
It's fine. I've seen much stranger things between dashes in much more brilliant sentences than that
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Old 04-06-2006, 09:06 AM   #8
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Sorry for me being so stoopid. I thought you were asking about quotation marks, not dashes. I failed to see your example.
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Old 04-06-2006, 09:54 AM   #9
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katiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskatiemac is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Hey, Akuma, this wouldn't happen to be for a fanfiction story, would it?

*ducks and runs*
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Old 04-07-2006, 04:41 AM   #10
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Alright, thanks for the clarification, guys.

And katiemac, don't be blasphemous. I think we had a whole thread addressing that.
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Me? Write pokemon erotica? Surely you've mistaken me for someone else. . .

"'That’s it, Akuma,' the video game murmurs. 'We love you long time.'

'Squirtle, squirtle.' Whispers the young man."

--Rllgthunder

WIP:
Green Queen -- 44, 255 words.

Sin War -- 108, 603 words.
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Old 04-07-2006, 04:48 AM   #11
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three seven is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsthree seven is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsthree seven is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsthree seven is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsthree seven is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsthree seven is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsthree seven is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsthree seven is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamesaritchie
I'd also get rid of the dashes.
That would leave you with You think life’s been tough on you you because you're alone in the world?
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Old 04-07-2006, 06:09 AM   #12
Akuma
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Akuma has earned our admirationAkuma has earned our admirationAkuma has earned our admirationAkuma has earned our admiration
Well, I'm not getting rid of the dashes, of course. But took katiemac's advice and made it in italics, instead. It looks far better that way, I think.
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Me? Write pokemon erotica? Surely you've mistaken me for someone else. . .

"'That’s it, Akuma,' the video game murmurs. 'We love you long time.'

'Squirtle, squirtle.' Whispers the young man."

--Rllgthunder

WIP:
Green Queen -- 44, 255 words.

Sin War -- 108, 603 words.
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