Using colons and semi-colons in dialogue
I've often heard writers say they don't like using colons and semi-colons in dialogue specifically. I don't often see colons and semi-colons in dialogue, but sometimes it just seems like it's by far the best option.
For example:
"I told you: John doesn't work on Mondays."
Is there any real alternative to the colon here? How about a semi-colon?
"Don't worry; I only get drunk on Sundays."
Is the semi-colon ok, or is it awkward in dialogue? Putting a full stop after "Don't worry" seems strange to me.
Or I could expand the sentence:
"I’ll do anything it takes: rehab, counseling, therapy, whatever I need to do.”
What's the difference between using a colon or an em-dash?
"It's an article about all the types of things you hate: the environment, animal rights, veganism, that kind of thing."
Is the colon above okay in dialogue?
How about something like:
"Trust me; the WASPy stuff is nothing in comparison."
Is a semi-colon appropriate above? Once again, it seems strange to me to put a full-stop.
Or:
"Those things I said--I didn't mean a word of them."
Is an em dash appropriate here? I thought you weren't supposed to put a full clause after an em dash if it finishes the sentence? If so, should I use something else like a colon?
How about:
"I know you; that place would haunt you."
Is there another way of doing this?
Thanks so much for any advice! Please note the question is specifically about dialogue.
This post was sourced from https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/19318. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
2 answers
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Is using colons and/or semicolons in dialogue awkward? No. Using them is fine. To me at least, every one of the above quotes looks perfectly natural. I agree that trying to find another way to write them would be difficult, and in some cases, may even harm the flow of writing by using something unnatural.
It all comes down to what works best for what you are writing. Even very successful authors will sometimes bypass the rules of grammar (or widely accepted rules of writing) briefly, just because it makes their story more powerful. (I regret I cannot give you any examples off the top of my head. If you read closely, you should find them.)
Grammar is a great tool for keeping your writing in a format that is easily understood by all. When you're writing though, be sure to put the words on the page before the correct way to put them there. I love grammar, but sometimes making sure you have perfect punctuation will make your words lack just that: Perfection.
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Colons are fine because they represent a stop, the same as an m-dash. I would hesitate to use a semi-colon in dialogue because to me it's a bookish piece of punctuation. It gives the reader a visual guide that two indepdendent clauses are connected. (I would never, however, use a comma splice instead.)
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