Punctuation For Thoughts

(Sorry if this is the wrong category for this type of question)

So I've always liked to include the thoughts of the POV character in my stories, even if it's just a snippet. Generally, I've been doing this in the same way that I would speech, but with a relevant dialogue tag, and so far I haven't had any issues with submissions.

However, I was reading articles recently that said thoughts should never be within quotations and should just be italics. So my question is:

1) Is the use of italics the correct way to punctuate thoughts? I love you, I thought vs "I love you," I thought.

2) Would it require a dialogue tag to go along with it, or is the italics enough by itself?

3) What is the preferred method of punctuating inner thoughts within story submissions on the site?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

I would suggest using italics. If it's clear that the italicized passage represents the character's thoughts, then you can omit the dialog tag.

I have always done it with dialogue, but I guess the italics things works. A story mod would have to chime in.

Thank you for your help. It just felt wrong to do it with italics, but if that's how it is suppose to be then fair enough. I probably just didn't pay attention at school when it was covered. Thanks again

Using italics is way clearer for me. There's no confusion with dialogues, and you avoid clogging the narrative with all the tags.

I've used italics exclusively in my latest series to represent thoughts, and I prefer it as a device to indicate them, as long as it's made clear that's what they are on first usage. In first person, it's fairly obvious so it may not even need tagging as such. Depends how clever you are at introducing them.

I've also seen double quotes for direct speech and single quotes for thoughts. That also works, as long as it's consistent, although it can be less clear if the story is read quickly: apostrophes are easy to miss if a story is exciting.

The key is consistency. End of the day, you want readers to consume your work as effortlessly as possible, so any convention you use to help them do that is welcome.

Italics, unless it’s in the first person, then there is no need.

Quote by Scot2469
Italics, unless it’s in the first person, then there is no need.

This also works, and I've done it this way in the past if it's clear the thoughts are thoughts (which most of the time they would be if it's written well).

As I mentioned above, as long as it's consistent and clear to people consuming your content, use any convention you wish. If it's not clear, mods will return it and ask for clarity.

Italics. I use it in first person when my m.c is having intense/crazed/devil on the shoulder thoughts but it depends on the character. I don't use it for rational thoughts and include those in the regular body of the story because a wall of italics isn't visually appealing.

Most, if not all, my stories are first-person. Italics for thoughts and bold for text messages, etc, I use different POVs in marked areas of text. So when the POV changes, I have a divider with the new POV marked.

I've never had problems from readers noted in comments, and no problem with moderators.

I think it's a lot cleaner, especially if any change in POV is clearly marked. i

I think I overdid it with both italics and quotes for telepathic creatures in my latest story. In that case the characters were thinking at others so maybe it will work.

How should I say to Sarah, stop liking pictures on my page? STOP or STOP IT!!!

Quote by heidi

How should I say to Sarah, stop liking pictures on my page? STOP or STOP IT!!!

Lol well, you shouldnt use multiple exclamation marks at the end and since you are speaking it should have quotations around it. The dialogue tag should generally end with a comma, unless it is an action. Hmmm i'll tell you what I'll go like all you pictures again and leave a comment to help you know which

The multiple exclamation marks were to get your attenion but after reading your reply maybe a hamer would have worked better. Damb, that emoji is not here now 😢. Well I am above sinking to your level 😇

English is not my first language, but I love its grammar. There are many 'rules' but the basics are the work of genius. I love the semi-colon. We have a gender for every noun in French, the English just invented the word 'The'. That is lyrical genius.

You do not have to contend with the French avant-garde doing this in books. << Bonjour, Ines. >> It is very simple, consider your readers, not style. I would always italicise thoughts, because it is something so obvious, it makes my readers understand. Is the purpose of language - a means to be understood, or something to debate on style?

As for punctuating speech, I love to include the emotions or thoughts that accompany this. Why? Speech is so very nuanced. I cannot understand why speech is a 'he said' or 'she said' thing. There are emotions, body language, tone... and most of communication is non-verbal.

"After you," he said.

"After you." He smiled. Hopeful, earnest, revealing his vulnerability in his act of gallantry.

You decide - who would you would rather fuck?

I’ve always used double quotes for both speech and inner thoughts, because that’s what I was taught. That said, while I do make a strong effort to expose my inner monologue in my stories, I tend to do it by describing my thoughts and emotions more than by quoting the actual words in my head. But this discussion has opened my eyes, and in the future I will use italics instead of quotes when I am sharing the actual words I’m thinking.

Quote by AmuseBouche
There are emotions, body language, tone... and most of communication is non-verbal.

"After you," he said.

"After you." He smiled. Hopeful, earnest, revealing his vulnerability in his act of gallantry.

You decide - who would you would rather fuck?

Oh, I’d definitely fuck the second guy if he held the door and smiled at me like that.