09-18-2014, 06:13 PM | #1 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,000
Karma: 12012526
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Canada
Device: Sony PRS-650
|
Said or Asked?
"How was it?" said Fran. "How was what?" said Maria.
or "How was it?" asked Fran. "How was what?" asked Maria. |
09-18-2014, 06:36 PM | #2 |
Surfin the alpha waves ~~
Posts: 24,279
Karma: 459220161
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New Jersey
Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids
|
"Asked," said cromag.
|
Advert | |
|
09-18-2014, 08:45 PM | #3 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,305
Karma: 43993832
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Monroe Wisconsin
Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)
|
I think it could be either. The important thing is not to go thesaurus happy and come up with 20 or more ways to say it. ie. gushed, disclaimed, stuttered etc. when said or asked are more than sufficient some 90 + % of the time. Or at least that's what the various books I've read about it in the past have said.
|
09-18-2014, 09:10 PM | #4 |
cacoethes scribendi
Posts: 5,809
Karma: 137770742
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Australia
Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650
|
I prefer "asked" where it is an actual question. I try to reserve "said" for rhetorical questions (where I don't want to attribute as "asked rhetorically").
|
09-19-2014, 01:38 AM | #5 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,000
Karma: 12012526
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Canada
Device: Sony PRS-650
|
I tend to say "said." I figure the question mark will take care of it. But not everyone sees it that way, so I end up using "asked" more often than I otherwise would.
|
Advert | |
|
09-19-2014, 06:49 AM | #6 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
To my mind, "said" if it's a statement, but "asked" if it's a question. Or appropriate synonyms, of course.
|
09-19-2014, 07:33 AM | #7 |
Feral Underclass
Posts: 3,622
Karma: 26821535
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Yorkshire, tha noz
Device: 2nd hand paperback
|
Asked, but the name usually comes first in adult fiction:
"How was it?" Fran asked. Whereas child fiction is usually the other way round: "How was it?" asked Fran. |
09-19-2014, 11:04 AM | #8 |
Wizard
Posts: 2,230
Karma: 7145404
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Southern California
Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+
|
I like asked but agree you need to be cautious. A lengthy Q & A dialog should use some said's and, like Crich said, don't go crazy with verbs beyond said.
|
09-19-2014, 11:08 AM | #9 | |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
Quote:
"Are you going into town this morning?", asked Anne? "Why do you ask?", replied Peter. "Just wondering if I could have the car." "Sure." "See you later, then." |
|
09-19-2014, 11:19 AM | #10 | |
Not scared!
Posts: 13,424
Karma: 81011643
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Midlands, UK
Device: Kindle Paperwhite 10, Huawei M5 10
|
Quote:
|
|
09-19-2014, 11:32 AM | #11 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
|
09-19-2014, 12:48 PM | #12 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,000
Karma: 12012526
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Canada
Device: Sony PRS-650
|
Ba-doom-tish. Good one.-)
Like you, I like the names to be dropped as soon as possible in a long dialog(ue.) But, because I have become lost when reading them, I'm careful to throw the names in here and there to prevent that. |
09-19-2014, 12:51 PM | #13 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,000
Karma: 12012526
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Canada
Device: Sony PRS-650
|
|
09-19-2014, 06:03 PM | #14 | |
Ex-Helpdesk Junkie
Posts: 19,422
Karma: 85397180
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity
Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)
|
Quote:
And then the second line doesn't? FWIW, in the US there wouldn't be a comma there. |
|
09-19-2014, 08:36 PM | #15 |
cacoethes scribendi
Posts: 5,809
Karma: 137770742
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Australia
Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650
|
Where did you get this from? About 60 seconds browsing various adults books here shows a mix of both in all of them.
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
I said, she said, he asked? | VydorScope | Writers' Corner | 12 | 07-26-2011 09:54 AM |
What do you say when asked what page you're on? | daxp | General Discussions | 64 | 07-28-2010 03:17 PM |
It never fails....I am always asked. | Stacey34 | Sony Reader | 81 | 06-05-2009 04:09 PM |
Just because Desertgrandma asked ... | RickyMaveety | Lounge | 28 | 07-18-2008 11:22 AM |
For those who have asked | GeoffC | Bookeen | 12 | 03-27-2008 02:26 PM |