November 3, 2005: Issue 112
Every quote needs attribution. Just mentioning someone in the previous sentence doesn’t suffice.
incorrect: Sandra loves living so close to the water. “You just roll out of bed, and there’s the beach.”
correct: Sandra loves living so close to the water. “You just roll out of bed, and there’s the beach,” she says.
In attributions, people “say,” “suggest,” and “explain.” They might laugh, but they don’t laugh words. If you need to mention laughter, find another way.
incorrect: “I gave up and got carpet the same color as the dog’s fur,” she laughs.
correct: “I gave up and got carpet the same color as the dog’s fur,” she says, laughing.
correct: “I gave up and got carpet the same color as the dog’s fur,” she says with a laugh.
Don’t combine full and partial quotes. Use attribution or some other transition to separate them, or paraphrase the partial quote. (If anyone wants the technical explanation for this, let me know. I’ll spare the rest of you.)
incorrect: Sergei calls the new pool and deck area “a resort in our own backyard. We don’t even need to leave home to feel like we’re on vacation.”
correct: Sergei considers the new pool and deck area a backyard resort. “We don’t even need to leave home to feel like we’re on vacation,” he says.
correct: The new pool and deck area is “a resort in our own backyard,” Sergei says. “We don’t even need to leave home to feel like we’re on vacation.”
ON BHGStylebook.com: To find quote attribution tips from last week’s Style on the Go, or to search other old issues, go to www.BHGStylebook.com/style.php.
Compiled by Elizabeth Keest Sedrel. Have a question you’d like addressed in a future issue? E-mail it.
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