Using Quotation Marks - A Challenge for Everyone (For Fun)

Below you will find several MODEL sentences. These illustrate the ways that quotations can be written.

1. "Those humans are mistreating me again," moaned Toby Toaster.

2. Rodney Refrigerator asked, "Toby Toaster, are you whining again?"

3. "You just try being a toaster for a day!" exclaimed Toby.

4. Rodney replied, "It would be quite nice to be warm inside for a change."

5. Toby said that he'd gladly trade a cold tummy for the heartburn the humans gave him every morning.

6. "Toby, you make me laugh," scoffed Steve Stove. "When they fire my oven up, the heat lasts hours, not just minutes."

7. "No," answered Toby Toaster, "that never occurred to me. They seem to have control over everything I do."

**********************

Your challenge is to write TWO sentences using quotes from a ficticious shop. Challenge yourself and have fun!

Elise the Editor and p/t shopper
Inside Evaluators

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Seriously, I'll start over.....

1. "God bless us everyone" said Tiny Tim.
2. The Bartender asked, "What can I get for you."
3. "The merger is imminent" replied the MSC owner.
4. Reading Jill's letter, Pat said, "Listen to this!
"I've received notice that I made a 10 on my report"
Isn't that great?"



Very cute thread, let's keep it going!!

Live consciously....


Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/23/2012 06:06PM by Irene_L.A..
Irene, the point is to get them right, not to deliberately make them wrong.
Irene . . . I'd really love to see you correct the errors. Want to give it a try?

Elise the Editor and p/t shopper
Inside Evaluators
The hostess seated us and said, "Your server will be with you in a moment."
"Good evening!" our server said. "I'm Mandy and I will be taking care of you this evening."
I offer actual quotes from recent shops:

The server turned back to me and offered, "Excuse me, sir," then asked, "How would sir like his pigeon prepared?"

When I appraoched the desk, the agent said, "Welcome, are you here for the pole dancing convention?" in a jovial tone.
Why Steve! You never told us that you'd done shops in Poland!

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
walesmaven Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why Steve! You never told us that you'd done
> shops in Poland!


LOL! closest I've shopped is Prague. This was last night in LA and you can probably figure the hotel with a Google search. I had no idea such a convention existed. Makes me think twice about this convention thing.

If only I could post photos on the forum.....
If you are talking about MSC report narratives, I avoid quotes like the plague. They can always be contested if not absolutely a correct quote. I use phrases such as, no quotes, The sales person indicated, the associate told me that... I never get grief about that sort of writing. Just a thought.
cynb,
There are tons of shops where direct quotes are required or the report will not be accepted.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Upon entering the restaurant, the hostess smiled, greeting us with, "Hi, how are you doing this evening?" We replied that we were fine but hungry. She said, "Then you've come to the right place. Just the two of you?"

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/24/2012 06:31PM by Bena.
Irene_L.A. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Seriously, I'll start over.....
>
> 1. "God bless us everyone" said Tiny Tim.
> 2. The Bartender asked, "What can I get for
> you."
> 3. "The merger is imminent" replied the MSC
> owner.
> 4. Reading Jill's letter, Pat said, "Listen to
> this!
> "I've received notice that I made a 10 on my
> report"
> Isn't that great?"
>
>
>
> Very cute thread, let's keep it going!!

Corrected:

> 1. "God bless us, every one!" said Tiny Tim.

> 2. The bartender asked, "What can I get for
> you?"

> 3. "The merger is imminent," replied the MSC
> owner.

> 4. Reading Jill's letter, Pat said, "Listen to this! I've received notice that I earned a 10 on my report. Isn't that great?"

Irene, I really appreciate you trying this exercise. I think it points out how difficult it is to put punctuation in the right place.

Elise the Editor and p/t shopper
Inside Evaluators
One of your corrections may have been wrongwinking smiley Some companies want us to capitalize the job title of the person we are evaluating so that would be "Bartender." Love this thread!

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
I went to Barnes and Noble and read about correct quotes, I took these out of the dictonary on quotes, and just changed the words to reflect msing.....that is out of a quotes dictonary, so, who's right....smiling smiley

The first one, I thought the word everyone was not right, but it was in the dictonary so I put it in....and felt I learned a bit, but according to you, NOT. The pucuation was different, but I did trust the dictonary and that's how they pucuate. Funny thing, I have never had a quote come back on a report, it's been years since I've been to school, so maybe my editors are my age. Thanks and now I won't quote as Cynb says......you've frightened me.

Live consciously....


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/24/2012 11:33PM by Irene_L.A..
Definitely a FOS comment, Irene.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/24/2012 11:29PM by Flash.
Have no idea what FOS means....

Live consciously....
That is just as good. If you observe a novel, the samples given here, the samples with your shops, etc. you will note that there is invariably some punctuation inside a closing quote. Quite frankly, it doesn't matter whether it is "God bless us every one." said Tiny Tim. or "God bless us every one!" said Tiny Tim. Or Tiny Tim's full statement might have been, "God bless us every one because we sure need it as mystery shoppers!" In which case, the statement could be: "God bless us every one," said Tiny Tim, "because we sure need it as mystery shoppers!" You will also observe from the samples, novels and other written material that some punctuation comes before an opening quotation mark unless it is at the beginning of a paragraph. This may be the period of the preceding sentence or the comma between Tiny Tim and 'because' in the sentence above.
walesmaven Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> cynb,
> There are tons of shops where direct quotes are
> required or the report will not be accepted.


OK I was not aware of this. In 7 years, I have not seen this but if I do I will make every effort to use quotation marks properly. I have no problem with that. I was just suggesting that if it it not required better to use other language.
If direct quotes are not required I won't always provide any either. It basically depends on how much narrative is required. On a narrative heavy report it can help fill in that character count, LOL! I'm glad this has been the first of our little grammar lessons. I usually get the quotes right, but I do find myself starting to type it the wrong way and having to correct. Now I need some help with commas and run on sentences. Hint, hintwinking smiley

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
I also have a problem with commas and run-on sentences especially knowing where a comma goes and where it doesn't and even if the sentence might qualify for a semi-colon if I should actually use on so I think it would be a good topic for the next installment of our grammar class as the last time I had grammar lessons was in elementary school as we were expected to be able to write a decent sentence by the end of Grade 6.
Lisa, was that humour wrapped in sarcasm, wrapped in what the heck? You do not need any help with run on sentences.
Actually I really, really do. Just not as much as Benasmiling smiley

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Really? I don't see it in your writing. But if you say so. Do editors actually complain about your run on sentences? I actually would like to know. And now I have to keep finding your newest posts to talk to you. OK
I think that there will be people getting their feelings hurt here.
I try to use good grammar and punctuation even when I'm posting. It is good practice. But yes, run on sentences can be a weakness of mine. If I'm not being a hot head I will check and edit posts before hitting submitsmiling smiley

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
I hope you don't mean cynb, Bena and me!

Sandra Sue Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think that there will be people getting their
> feelings hurt here.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Sandra Sue Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think that there will be people getting their
> feelings hurt here.
I agree which is why I Pmd Irene re this. It is not fun for me. It sounds to me that it is about quien es mas macho. I am out.
Commas, I love commas, can't you tell?

I also love semicolons; but, I don't believe people use those much, at least from what I've seen and read!

The way I was taught (and we're talking 3.5 decades ago) was a comma goes when you pause in a sentence. Of course there are other rules - but that one always "stuck" with me.

Whenever I use quotes in my surveys - and I do use them in every single survey - I write it out exactly like the employee spoke to me. If they "paused" - and there should be a comma - then plop, in goes a comma! I've had one particular Editor email me back telling me I didn't need it. I wrote back to the Editor and said, "Oh yes I most certainly do, because THAT was the way the employee spoke to me. If you take out the comma, then it changed the entire tone of the quote." I also cc'd the Scheduler on that email - and she agreed with me.

~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~

Proud To Be A Soldier's Mom


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/25/2012 03:47AM by r@inyDayZ3.
I find semicolons totally baffling. There are times I am just dying to use one and at the last minute change my mind!

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Sandra Sue Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think that there will be people getting their
> feelings hurt here.


It's possible. I don't think anyone worried about being corrected is going to post publicly here. I'm sure if they were, they could sent their assignment to Shume privately.

I also don't think we should argue grammar points when we are being provided with free help. I am one of the worst for arguing if I think something was marked wrong. I am going to try and remember to do it in pm if I feel the need.

People shouldn't be willing to post their assignments if they are thin-skinned enough to get hurt by the corrections.
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