Should dialogue and action be split by a period or a comma?

[John_Owl]

So, I was always taught MLA formatting and while I've strayed pretty far, some things I was taught about it, I still use. This had a standard of a single tab (or five spaces, if tab doesn't work) before each paragraph, specific source citation formatting, etc. Under this, I was taught that in a narrative (story; as opposed to an Essay), the character's spoken dialogue should be separated from the action or dialogue tag before or after it by a comma. If the dialogue is between two actions, then the FIRST action should be a comma, and the second should be a period, making the second it's own sentence. And this is the formatting I usually use.

I also use Grammarly as a pre-editor before sending it to my alpha reader/editor. The issue here is that Grammarly has started marking a comma as wrong in all cases, basically wanting to force dialogue to be its own sentence, separate from any action.

Examples:
MLA formatting by what I was taught: I sighed and sat up, "Fine. I'm up. Geez... I swear, this farm really doesn't like when I wanna be lazy."

What Grammarly suggests: I sighed and sat up. "Fine. I'm up. Geez... I swear, this farm really doesn't like when I wanna be lazy."

I know it's a minor thing, but it's bugging me. When Grammarly made this switch, my mistake pings shot from around 3-5 intentional "mistakes" to upwards of 50-70 per chapter.

 

[Empress_Omnii]

The only time it matters will be in a paper where MLA is required (even that can vary). While I prefer the MLA option, keep it consistent and there is nothing wrong with either.

 

[NotaNuffian]

So, I was always taught MLA formatting and while I've strayed pretty far, some things I was taught about it, I still use. This had a standard of a single tab (or five spaces, if tab doesn't work) before each paragraph, specific source citation formatting, etc. Under this, I was taught that in a narrative (story; as opposed to an Essay), the character's spoken dialogue should be separated from the action or dialogue tag before or after it by a comma. If the dialogue is between two actions, then the FIRST action should be a comma, and the second should be a period, making the second it's own sentence. And this is the formatting I usually use.

I also use Grammarly as a pre-editor before sending it to my alpha reader/editor. The issue here is that Grammarly has started marking a comma as wrong in all cases, basically wanting to force dialogue to be its own sentence, separate from any action.

Examples:
MLA formatting by what I was taught: I sighed and sat up, "Fine. I'm up. Geez... I swear, this farm really doesn't like when I wanna be lazy."

What Grammarly suggests: I sighed and sat up. "Fine. I'm up. Geez... I swear, this farm really doesn't like when I wanna be lazy."

I know it's a minor thing, but it's bugging me. When Grammarly made this switch, my mistake pings shot from around 3-5 intentional "mistakes" to upwards of 50-70 per chapter.

...

Might be a me issue, but when you put comma, shouldn't the sentence be as such?

I sighed and sat up, "fine, I'm up...

Even if after the comma is a spoken, I would continue using small letter.

Also, I use comma instead of full stop because it is supposed to be one complete sentence. But I think there are some who would argue that it becomes a run-on.

 

[Clo]

Usually if I use a dialogue tag, I will use a comma. If I don't, I use a period:

Elyssia stepped forward. "What do you mean, you're out of mana?"

Elyssia groaned and then said, "Please, no dad joke. Never again."

 

[John_Owl]

...

Might be a me issue, but when you put comma, shouldn't the sentence be as such?

I sighed and sat up, "fine, I'm up...

Even if after the comma is a spoken, I would continue using small letter.

I used to, but my wife had a cow over it. Her teachers called it a "Complex sentence", so it's both one total sentence and two individual sides to it.

Also, I use comma instead of full stop because it is supposed to be one complete sentence. But I think there are some who would argue that it becomes a run-on.

A run on covers multiple individual thoughts, which it could be.

And I do understand writing is ever-evolving and changing, as any artform does, but there should be some semi-persistent rules.

 

[Rezcore]

Quotation Marks ""

 

[soupsabaw]

I have no idea if it's technically right or wrong, but this is what I do. No one has ever corrected it. Not a friend who reads my stories or any editing software. I'll just use some random writing I have for my example.

I use a comma when I insert a dialogue tag, like "said", "spoke", "yelled", "whispered", etc. If it's something else like say an action, I don't:

Kylion tossed the card onto his desk and said, “I’ll think it over.”

Payton smiled. “One more thing," he said.

"Payton smiled." is its own sentence. To continue it with a comma wouldn't make sense. At least to me. And "said" leads into what Kylion here is saying, so it makes sense to add a comma if you want to see it as either separating the two ideas or separating yourself the author and omnipresent being of the story and your character.

 

[John_Owl]

I have no idea if it's technically right or wrong, but this is what I do. No one has ever corrected it. Not a friend who reads my stories or any editing software. I'll just use some random writing I have for my example.

I use a comma when I insert a dialogue tag, like "said", "spoke", "yelled", "whispered", etc. If it's something else like say an action, I don't:


"Payton smiled." is its own sentence. To continue it with a comma wouldn't make sense. At least to me. And "said" leads into what Kylion here is saying, so it makes sense to add a comma if you want to see it as either separating the two ideas or separating yourself the author and omnipresent being of the story and your character.

that makes sense and is what I've seen most professional authors do. But it's always felt weird for me to write that way. but again, just my personal preference.

 

[soupsabaw]

that makes sense and is what I've seen most professional authors do. But it's always felt weird for me to write that way. but again, just my personal preference.

This probably isn't the best advice, but as long as your writing is grabbing the reader, most people probably won't even notice if you're using a comma or a period there or not LOL

 

[John_Owl]

This probably isn't the best advice, but as long as your writing is grabbing the reader, most people probably won't even notice if you're using a comma or a period there or not LOL

oh, definitely not. I've not had a complaint yet. But I'm gearing up to posting some of my completed novels for sale, so I've been considering some of these smaller matters of editing. And the only reason I was even thinking of this comma/period matter is that Grammarly has begun pinging it as wrong, which got me thinking.

 

[aurifex]

I sighed and sat up, "Fine. I'm up. Geez... I swear, this farm really doesn't like when I wanna be lazy."

I don't think you'll ever see this sort of construction in a published novel. Rules for how you use dialogue tags & how quotation marks interact with nearby sentences are pretty well defined. The comma is objectively wrong here, by publishing standards.

While I prefer the MLA option, keep it consistent and there is nothing wrong with either.

I personally think there is definitely something wrong with using a comma leading into a quote without a tag--you'll never see it in published fiction

I sighed and sat up, "fine, I'm up...

This is even worse, this can't possibly fit any standard...

I've seen most professional authors do.

*All professional authors
Barring those who stylistically choose not to use quotation marks, like McCarthy, of course
And maybe extremely old works


I realize this is a forum for a web fiction website, so standards are loose. But please make no mistake, there is a correct 'publishable' way to handle quotation marks, and an 'amateur, web-fiction, do-whatever-you-want' way. A constant mangling of these well-known standards usually makes me click away, because it indicates the author is an amateur.
Look, I know I sound obnoxious here, but I also fully stand by what I've said...

 

[soupsabaw]

oh, definitely not. I've not had a complaint yet. But I'm gearing up to posting some of my completed novels for sale, so I've been considering some of these smaller matters of editing. And the only reason I was even thinking of this comma/period matter is that Grammarly has begun pinging it as wrong, which got me thinking.

I see, I see, well good luck!!! I hope you find a comfortable answer soon

 

[John_Owl]

I personally think there is definitely something wrong with using a comma leading into a quote without a tag--you'll never see it in published fiction

Anytime I see the word "never" I feel compelled to find examples to prove it wrong. Writing IS art. There are rules for what can be done? No. there are rules for what others think is good. Doesn't mean it's the only way. And with the rise of self-publishing, there's growing to be less and less importance on what traditional publishers think.

But I do appreciate the input, even if it sounded a little pretentious. But in general, judging a novel amateurish and not worth reading based on such a small detail could potentially be detrimental.

 

[aurifex]

Anytime I see the word "never" I feel compelled to find examples to prove it wrong. Writing IS art. There are rules for what can be done? No. there are rules for what others think is good.

I would be interested if you could find examples. I'm sure a scattered few books across the 100 mil+ published works break this convention. But this isn't some artsy stylistic thing, it's a fundamental publishing standard. Like how you end sentences with periods. And capitalize the first word of a sentence.

Dialogue tags and quotes have rules. Go open 100 of your favorite published novels and you won't find a single one that uses quotes and commas in the way you did in the OP.

But in general, judging a novel amateurish and not worth reading based on such a small detail could potentially be detrimental.

I strongly disagree. This is a genuine fundamental. Only amateur web fiction and fan fiction writers disagree. Put an earnest effort into becoming a professional (or just read novels frequently) and you'll pick up on the rules behind dialogue tagging and quotes. It's why I click away most of the time if they get it wrong, unless the writing seriously impressed me otherwise. Because it means the author isn't serious about their craft, which doesn't bode well for the story as a whole.

 

[ConansWitchBaby]

Addendum:

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;......................:::::::::::::::::::?????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))[[[[[[[[[[[]]]]]]]]]]]]]\\\\\\\\\\\\''''''''''''''''''''""""""""""""""""""""************````````````~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shove em where you feel like it.

-Sincerely,

Timothy Dexter, The Informer of Deer

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Never really thought about it - sometimes a period just feels right, sometimes a comma, and sometimes a colon. I go with what feels right.

 

[aurifex]

Never really thought about it - sometimes a period just feels right, sometimes a comma, and sometimes a colon. I go with what feels right.

Suitable advice for people who don't give a shit

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Suitable advice for people who don't give a shit

Was just a statement of fact, not advice.

 

[aurifex]

Was just a statement of fact, not advice.

You posted to "Discussions and Writing Advice". Specifically, in a thread asking about how dialogue tagging works. Your response is implied to be advice. As in, "I believe what I do has merit, so this is what I do."

Or were you blog posting for no reason? Why would you respond to a thread in the "Writing Advice" category if you weren't trying to help the OP?

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Just providing an example. If it helps, then it was advice. If not, it was just a comment.