Correct: "I don't know about this whole writing business," Ray Terr said. "Don't worry," Questa Nanser said. "It's not as complicated as it seems. A wise man once said, 'Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.'" "You're not making any sense. How will I remember all of these rules?" he asked. Incorrect: "You won't have any problems", she said ",because, you'll realize that when someone's speaking, he's creating complete sentences within the framework of larger narrative structure.".
Correct: "Hey, I get this!" he exclaimed. "This is starting to make sense." "I knew you'd understand sooner or later." She smiled at him. "Now let's get on with the example." Incorrect: "But wait a minute…" He continued. "How will I know when not to capitalize the 'he' that means 'me'?" "Is your 'he' part of a different sentence?" she raised an eyebrow. "I thought not. Therefore, your capitalization of it is wrong." "Ah, but you're also wrong," He said, "because you didn't capitalize 'she' in your sentence." "We're demonstrating, Ray."
Correct: "Well," Questa said, "we're almost on the homestretch here." "It's about time," said Ray. "I was beginning to think our author would never get around to finishing up this article." Incorrect: "But of course," Ray continued. "There has to be the section where we make deliberate mistakes, as always. I'm speaking in fragments again." "Ray, you need to stop that," said Questa, "between your fragments and my run-ons, we make quite a pair."
Correct: "Well, I think I've learned about everything there is to know about how to write dialogue," Ray said. Just for fun, he danced a jig while speaking. Questa rolled her eyes. "You," she said, "are absolutely absurd." "But you like me anyway," he said. "Otherwise you wouldn't put up with me." Incorrect: "I'm not so sure." Ray hopped on one foot and then turned a back flip. "But you do put up with me, Questa." Questa tapped her foot impatiently. "As a result of the jumbled dialogue, I have no idea whether I'm speaking or you are." Ray nodded in agreement and continued his gymnastics.
"Yeah, and see if you ever sucker us into this again," grumbled Ray. Questa poked him. "You know, Ray, this is our job." "I know. But still…. You just know she's going to make us do something next month too….
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