Question

I wrote, After I got to shore and escaped drowning, I ran about the shore wringing my hands and beating my head and face, exclaiming at my misery, and crying out, 'I was undone, undone!' till, tired and faint, I was forced to lie down on the ground.
Choose the option that best corrects the underlined words.

• A. I wrote, "After I got to shore and escaped drowning, I ran about the shore wringing my hands and beating my head and face, exclaiming at my misery, and crying out, 'I was undone, undone!' till, tired and faint, I was forced to lie down on the ground."
• B. I wrote, "After I got to shore and escaped drowning, I ran about the shore wringing my hands and beating my head and face, exclaiming at my misery, and crying out, I was undone, undone, till, tired and faint, I was forced to lie down on the ground."
• C. I wrote, After I got to shore and escaped drowning, I ran about the shore wringing my hands and beating my head and face, exclaiming at my misery, and crying out, I was undone, undone, till, tired and faint, I was forced to lie down on the ground.
• D. NO CHANGE

Answer 1

The correct option is A I wrote, "After I got to shore and escaped drowning, I ran about the shore wringing my hands and beating my head and face, exclaiming at my misery, and crying out, 'I was undone, undone!' till, tired and faint, I was forced to lie down on the ground."

The given sentence is in direct speech and cites the exact words of the speaker. According to rules of punctuation, we use quotation marks with direct quotes. Single quotes are used for quotes within quotes. Thus, according to the rules, the correct answer will be Option A.

Option B is incorrect, as the quote within the quote also must be set off within single quotes.

Option C is also incorrect, as the direct speech of the subject is not put within double quotations.