posted
The first two are correct. I tend to like using "said" instead of "asked" because the quote is obviously a question. I also try to use action tags when possible to avoid having to use either X said or X asked.
Posts: 1210 | Registered: Feb 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
Depends on its location in the story. If it starts a stretch of dialog, the first two are right. But if it's midway into a stretch of dialog, you might omit "Pyre asked / Pyre said" altogether---depending on the circumstances. Like Christine said, it depends on style.
On "better" over "right"...I'd go with "Pyre asked," since Pyre is asking a question. Number Three is definitely incorrect.
posted
I agree: 1 or 2. As for better: for me, definitely 1. When I read
quote:"How do I do this?" Pyre said.
(or anything similar) it always startles me, in a mild way, to hit that "said"--BECAUSE I know it's a question. It's as if someone came up to me and said, "Let me say a question" instead of "Let me ask a question." It pulls me out of the story (though barely).
Oddly enough, this:
quote:Pyre said, "How do you do this?"
doesn't bother me the same way. That might just be me.
I also agree that dropping the tag altogether, when appropriate, is best of all.
[This message has been edited by rickfisher (edited July 18, 2006).]
posted
Oh, yeah...there's also "'How do I do this?' asked Pyre" school of phrasing.
For some reason, early on in my career as a writer, I took a dislike to writing sentences like that. Seemed an awkward way to say it. (Somehow it reminds me of Yodaspeak...but I think I'd already stopped doing it by the time that movie came out...)
I certainly can't say that I'm right and everybody who does it that way is wrong...it's just a personal preference...
Printer-friendly view of this topic
