This is one a lot of us seem to get tied up in knots about so :

She said, “I don’t know what’s so complicated.” [But, I’ve also seen no comma or a colon.] (Lynn Truss likes the comma but says it’s going out of fashion).

“I don’t understand,” the doctor said. “She is breathing normally.”

“Your problem,” said Fred, “is not mine.”

Please tell me if you disagree. Feel free to add any other examples.

I think I agree with that but what about:

“Your problem is not mine” said Fred.

What comes after ‘mine’ and is it ‘said’ or ’Said’?

I thought I knew all this but it seems to have leaked away…

Dee
X

Dee, definately a small s and maybe a comma after mine.

"Your problem is not mine," said Fred.

Anyone disagree?

My two pence.

"Your problem is not mine," Fred said.

Always a comma, and the said should follow the name, as in he said or she said, said he and said she doesn’t sound right.

Where the speech is broken, then it’s a comma if the speech is a complete sentence. Otherwise if the two sections of speech are different sentences then use a full stop.

Well that’s what I’ve read.

Grinder

I agree with the comma but I really don't like the 'Fred said' - it just doesn't seem to read right, 'said Fred' seems more suited.

(There's a pop group in there somewhere)

I know punctuation is very important, but I think sometimes minor punctuation mistakes (unless the ms is littered with them) don't really matter that much. The content and style of the writing is all important; for me anyway.

Dave

Dave,

Amongst other sources I got this from “Self Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King”
On page 64 they state…

Place the character’s name or pronoun first in a speaker attribution (“Dave said”). Reversing the two (“said Dave”) though often done, is less professional.

Since I’m trying my best to get published I’ve adopted this style.

Grinder

Fair play Darran, you go with what you feel. I think sometimes the sound of the words is important in the eventual sounding right of the sentence. I'm not saying you were wrong, just that it didn't sound right to me, and personally I would have gone against page 64 of Browne & King.

Sometimes a writer has to write against the rules.

Regards

Dave

Dave,

Sometimes a writer has to write against the rules

My own writing philosophy runs contrary to this. I think it’s hard enough as it is to get published without breaking rules that don’t, in my opinion, have to be broken. I know that it’s impossible to please everyone all of the time, but I’m trying to get as many on my side as I can.

However, that’s just my way of looking at things.

Grinder