Should you use direct quotes in writing both fiction and nonfiction in which there are people? Definitely!
Below are examples from Akin by Emma Donoghue. Akin is a novel about a 79-year-old former professor spending time with an 11-year-old street kid. Part of the delight of the book is its dialog, especially the contrast between the two people’s world views reflected in their way of speaking.
So, why to use direct quotes?
First, direct quotes show inflections, that is, how a speaker changes a word’s emphasis depending on verb tense, number, prefixes and suffixes and a use of modifiers. Here, for example, the old man says,
“You must know singers with ludicrous stage names? Like, ah 50 Cents.”
“50 Cent,” Michael said, pained. “And it’s Ludacris.”
Here’s another example, with the old man asking the boy,
“Do you skateboard?”
“Skate.”
“Oh, you prefer skating. Ice or roller?”
“It’s called skating, dude.”
Second, direct quotes show regionalisms, ages, education, socioeconomic and other differences. For example, the boy explains that his skateboard was stolen.
“They skated right past, dissing me. Grandma said”—Michael quoted—“’This is a test from the Lord, are you going to hold on to your wrath? Are you going to pass the test?’”
Here is another. The boy asks,
“Are you a atheist?”
Noah corrected him: “An atheist.”
“That’s what I said.”
“It’s an, rather than a, when it’s followed by a vowel: an atheist.”
“Like you’re an asshole.”
Third, direct quotes show how a person puts a sentence together—using standard English or some other way. The older man, Noah, often uses long and complex sentences, yet adjusts his way of speaking so the boy will better understand him. The boy, on the other hand, uses really short sentences or phrases without concern for grammar. For example, the boy tells of his Uncle Cody:
“Cody used to smoke till I got him Juuling.”
“What-ing?”
“Vapes, you know? E-cigs?”
In another example, Michael sees a bunch of balloons tied to the front railing of a house. He asks,”
“Did somebody get offed here?”
Fourth, direct quotes reveal personality. From the few quotes I’ve just used, you can see that Noah, is an academic from an educated middle class background and out-of-touch with children, yet willing, even eager, to know the boy. Michael is more tentative about knowing Noah, preferring the safety of his phone. He uses the language of the street as an intentional emotional barrier between himself and Noah.
I recommend you read Akin. I suspect you too will delight in the dialog, just part of the treat of this well written novel.
English Writing Teacher 