I've recently noticed writers leaving out the comma, or using a colon before direct speech in the following type of sentence (no words are actually spoken):
It was as if the dog was saying, "What are you asking me for?"
What is correct?
I've recently noticed writers leaving out the comma, or using a colon before direct speech in the following type of sentence (no words are actually spoken):
It was as if the dog was saying, "What are you asking me for?"
What is correct?
Thanks Lorraine. I was hoping for your wise guidance.
Robin, the dog isn't actually speaking; but you are saying that, if he did, this is what he would be saying. So you could render it as you have done; or you could put the dog's supposed speech into italics with no inverted commas.
I would avoid the colon here. It's somehow too formal; and if you haven't used it to introduce other, human, speech, don't make this an exception.
Adrian and Helen - thanks for comments.
I always thought it was commmon practice to use a comma and speech marks with direct speech. However, what I was (clumsily) trying to get at with my question was: what do you do with a sentence like the one I quoted?
[It was as if the dog was saying, "What are you asking me for?"]
Is it even direct speech - as its just a thought, and no words are actually spoken?