"He said" or "Said he?"

[Anonymous No.15161464]

which is better

[Anonymous No.15161505]

>>15161464
>said he, "the quote"

[Anonymous No.15161525]

Quoth the man, "quote."

[Anonymous No.15161533]

>>15161464
>saith the man
>the man saith
>the man declareth
>declareth the man

[Anonymous No.15162834]

nothing

[Anonymous No.15162849]

>>15161464
They have different metrical qualities. Use both of them as necessary to achieve the desired rhythmic effect.

For example:

>Said he, "You did not think I'd fail, when I have come this far?"

Vs

>He said, "I will not fail, not now, not after all this time."

The two MEAN the same thing, but they SOUND different. This is a thing you will have to pay attention to.

[Anonymous No.15162981]

>so he says to me he says he says he says to me he says "quote"
>and so this other guy says he says he says he says to me "quote"

[Anonymous No.15163090]

>>15161464
Mark Twain said to use Distinct character voices instead of having to mention who said what

[Anonymous No.15163101]

>>15163090
Eco does this but I sometimes have to back up to the beginning of the dialogue to figure out who is saying what

[cunt !OvNqHWMOSk No.15163100]

>>15161464
They spoke thus

[Anonymous No.15163117]

>>15163090
Even IF you do this, it's sometimes helpful to clarify just who's talking, especially if there's a lot of chaos in the scene you are describing and if there are a lot of people talking at once.

[Anonymous No.15163139]

>>15161464
>"the quote" was said by him
is infinitely superior, if by the dialogue in your story the reader can't tell who's speaking by the end of the quote, then your dialogue is bad.