To Quote Thoughts or Not?

Margie Wakeman WellsThe Quotation Mark 5 Comments

When someone is “thinking” and saying aloud what that thought might be, if he is using the exact wording he would use when saying it, yes, it should be quoted.

…I said to myself, “Wow. I am in trouble now.”
…I thought, “How am I going to explain this to him?”
…I wondered,  “What do I do if this car won’t start?”

These quotes are exactly the same as they would be if the person says them aloud.

Happy punctuating!

Margie

Comments 5

  1. Hey there, Margie.

    I am inclined to agree with you.

    Gregg and Morson’s advise otherwise, but I’ve never really understood why. It seems to me that, in legal transcripts, where there is so much dialogue and back-and-forth quoting going in, not quoting thoughts or imaginary dialogue presents the same context problems that we encounter when direct quotations aren’t quoted.

    1. Hello, Margie.

      I am also wondering if you would quote example questions/answers during colloquy? For example:

      And then the next question would be: Is this being offered for the truth of the matter asserted? No, I just decided to do an investigation.

      1. Post
        Author

        Yes, I would, Natalie. I would do

        …next question would be “Is this being offered for the truth of the matter asserted? No. I just decided to do an investigation.”

  2. Margie,
    Would you also quote speech that may or may not be exactly what was said? For example:
    … so I says something to him like “watch where you’re going.”

    1. Post
      Author

      Yes, I would. He is still using the words he would use if he were talking directly to the person.

      …something to him like “Watch where you’re going.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *