ANSWER: Dialogue Tags Before Speech

[ariestess]

starry_diadem asked, "How do you punctuate and capitalize when the dialogue tag comes before the speech?"
With examples from Once Upon a Time

So what is a dialogue tag anyway? In the simplest terms, this is the whole "he said/she said" bit of your dialogue. There are variations, of course, for those of us who like to spice it up a little. And let's not get

Comments

[wendelah1]

I had to look up the definition of a dialogue tag. LOL.

[ariestess]

Oh dear! I *did* end up forgetting something for this article then.

[wendelah1]

No, no. It's there, underneath the cut. I just didn't look until I googled it. The term I'd always heard was "speaker attributions." Very old skool.

[ariestess]

Ahh! Gotcha.

[starry_diadem]

Thank you. That's very helpful. I think., though, that I'd always rewrite your third option, where the tag surrounds the speech. It looks a bit clunky!

[ariestess]

Personally, I agree with you, but I wanted to show all possible options that I could think of.

[garonne]

Thanks, that was very helpful. I've often seen a colon used instead of a comma for the fourth option, but I'm glad you don't recommend that!

[ariestess]

Really? I don't think I've ever seen a colon used. How interesting...

[garonne]

Come to think of it, I'm not sure that I've ever seen it in print, only in fanfiction. I'm ashamed to say I used to think it was an accepted alternative... You know, along the lines of the choice between "Blah blah," said Jim, and "Blah blah," Jim said.

[ariestess]

*nods* There are so many things that I see in fanfic that make my grammarian heart break... LOL!

[pathology_doc]

Typo:

amd at the end of the speech.

Otherwise an excellent and useful article. Thanks. :)

[ariestess]

*facepalm* And now I feel completely embarrassed. Thank you for catching that.

[ext_1650069]

Thanks for posting this very helpful guide!!! :)

[ariestess]

You're welcome!