Dialogue tags

[Helena]

Well, I finally made here (see greeting post/introduce yourself) thanks to Pip, mrmustard and the Admiral

Okay. As my knowledge of writing is somewhere between ‘Thick and Plank’ I need a little help to understand the correct use of... Dialogue tags.


“I’m not applying for that post,” said Dan.

In the above example there is a comma inside the quotation marks. Have seen this many times, but why a comma?

“I’m not applying for that post.” replied Dan.

In the above example there is a full stop inside the quotation marks. Why a full stop? Is it correct to use a full stop in this way?

All thoughts and guidance much appreciated.

Helena

[NathanBrazil]

I'm sure many, with a much better grasp of grammar, will respond, but I'm fairly certain that a full stop is not correct.

[Jon M]

The first example is correct. Think of dialogue and the tag as parts of the same sentence.

[InstituteMan]

I was taught that you use a comma instead of a period in spoken words, and that the comma goes within the quotation marks. If the spoken words are a question or an exclamation, however, you need to put the "?" or "!" within the quotation marks.

There may be alternative schools of thought to what I was taught, but I haven't really seen them in print.

[Helena]

Hi, all, thanks for the input/help. So. Excluding "?" or "!" we know that we use a comma for spoken words, as in.... “I’m not applying for that post,” said Dan. But what about....“I’m not applying for that post,” replied Dan. Or... “I’m not applying for that post,” moaned Dan. I guess what I'm asking is...is there a time/scenario when a full stop would be used at the end of spoken words, as in...
"I don't care what you think." came the reply.

Helena

[InstituteMan]

"You always use a comma instead of a full stop for dialogue attribution," he said.

She looked up from her book. "Except sometimes you use dialogue without attribution." She stared out the window, then added, "And sometimes you do your attribution first." She grinned at the thought.

[Helena]

So in other words, all the following examples are correct?
"You always use a comma instead of a full stop for dialogue attribution," he said.
"You always use a comma instead of a full stop for dialogue attribution," he replied.
"You always use a comma instead of a full stop for dialogue attribution," replied Dan.
"You always use a comma instead of a full stop for dialogue attribution," uttered Margo under her breath.

[InstituteMan]

All correct in my book, Helena!

[J Anfinson]

“I’m not applying for that post,” said Dan.

In the above example there is a comma inside the quotation marks. Have seen this many times, but why a comma?

Because the sentence isn't finished until you've made it clear who spoke that.

[Terry D]

So in other words, all the following examples are correct?
"You always use a comma instead of a full stop for dialogue attribution," he said.
"You always use a comma instead of a full stop for dialogue attribution," he replied.
"You always use a comma instead of a full stop for dialogue attribution," replied Dan.
"You always use a comma instead of a full stop for dialogue attribution," uttered Margo under her breath.

Yes, except in the case of '?' and (!). These are full stops treated like commas in dialogue.