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Old 04-12-2014, 09:15 PM   #1
BetterRed
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Join Date: Mar 2012
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em dash close quotes

I was wondering if anyone has a cogent explanation as why so many word processors, ebook editors, and at least one 'overly smart' text editor have a problem with dialogue ending in an em dash followed by a closing quotes i.e.

“Blah, blah, blah—“ rather than “Blah, blah, blah—”

My reading of the The Chicago Manual of Style, is that it recommends em dash be used to indicate interrupted speech. It's also recommended in many other style guides - Penguin & the OUP are notable exceptions.

I have read a few explanations, but they don't make much sense as they stem from a programmers perspective. Many of whom couldn't distinguish a sentence of prose from a 10 year sentence in gaol. I'm allowed to say that because I was a programmer in a former existence

BR
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