Should I italicise when the protagonist quote other character's words?
For example in a story I'm writing a character says the following:
“Be careful,” An-Mei said, ignoring my question. “No matter what, don't get close to her.”
Later on the protagonist thinks about this:
I had decided to avoid the mountain at night. Be careful. Don't get close to her, An-Mei had said. But did why people fear her so much?
Should I italicize Be careful. Don't get close to her?
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1 answer
I think italics would be perfect. It makes total sense that the protagonist is recalling what someone else said — it's sort of an in-line flashback. Otherwise, how are you going to indicate that it's remembered dialogue? Quote marks make it look like An-Mei is there, speaking, when she's not, and a lack of any marking looks like a mistake.
You can leave in the credit or not; I generally like to err on the side of clarity, and I think here it reads fine to leave it in.
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