In the context of near-future sci-fi, I’m wrestling with neutral dialogue formatting so it is clear, practical, and does read like a system log. My story uses advanced brain chip Interface (BCI) technology that functions something like telepathy and texting. I need to handle situations where a POV character can read and discuss on multiple channels (verbal, digital SMS and neutral BCI). I’m using Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS). 1. CMOS conventions govern ordinary speech, messages, punctuation, capitalization, and displayed text. Spoken dialogue: “Bob, are you receiving my signal?” Abe asked. Text message: Bob’s phone displayed a message from Coe: Meet me at the entrance. Displayed text: The monitor flashed a warning: SYSTEM FAILURE. Ordinary narration: Abe glanced at Bob. “Something isn’t right.” 2. Italics identify content entering the POV character through the neural interface. Incoming information: Neural connection established. The notification appeared directly in Abe’s awareness. 3. Italics plus single quotation marks identify intentional neural dialogue. Considering going off the rails from CMOS and using single quotes other “than ‘a quote’ within a quote”. I would avoid any BCI messages with embedded quotes in the prose. Neural conversation: ‘Coe knows we’re here,’ Abe warned. ‘Then we need to move,’ Bob answered. Mixed spoken and neural dialogue: “Everything looks normal,” Abe said. ‘Bob, don’t trust Coe,’ he transmitted. “I agree,” Bob said, maintaining his composure. ‘Understood,’ Bob replied neurally. Thoughts? (pun intended)   submitted by   /u/Rik-Acland [link]   [comments]