: Re: Why use quotes on the word "Dad" when talking to someone? If a step-father is texting his step daughter and he writes: Maybe your "dad" can step up and take the dog What's meant

Because he is literally quoting her.
Presumably, if we can read way too far into this, our stepfather feels that he fills the role of a father in his stepdaughter's life. He presumably provides for her, spends time with her, sees to her needs, perhaps goes to school plays and parent-teacher conferences, signs permission forms...all the things that a dad does. However, she does not grant him the affectionate and intimate title of Dad - she reserves that title for her biological father, who our offended stepfather feels does not deserve it.
Thus when she is upset with him for not doing something for her - apparently he refused to walk the dog - he uses her own words to refer to a person who he knows will not put himself out for her, offset with quotes to show that it's not him who calls this person her dad.
The same can be done with other titles:

His Holiness, the Pope - indicates that the Pope is holy - vs His "Holiness", the Pope - indicates that the Pope says he's holy.
President Donald Trump - indicates that Donald Trump is President - vs "President" Donald Trump - indicates that Donald Trump is not acting like a president, whatever he says.

Load Full (0)

: My book doesn't seem to fall into a clear genre What genre best describes my novel about the life of a character whose entirely fictional history includes many realistically humorous interludes

@Kevin153

Load Full 1 Comments

: How can I keep my writing from being perceived as "too complicated" This is from a piece I wrote a couple of years back: The sky seemed like a big, large pool of grey smoke. The weather

@Kevin153

Load Full 9 Comments

: Should I send my manuscript again if I forgot the synopsis after sending it to a publisher? I emailed the manuscript and everything the guidelines said, and then realised the next morning I

@Kevin153

Load Full 0 Comments

: I'm not enjoying my attempt at a science-fiction novella; should I continue? I'm only 12, and I've been writing seriously since last year. I tried writing a novel before (I wrote only 5 chapters;

: Re: Why use quotes on the word "Dad" when talking to someone? If a step-father is texting his step daughter and he writes: Maybe your "dad" can step up and take the dog What's meant

More posts by @Kevin153

: My book doesn't seem to fall into a clear genre What genre best describes my novel about the life of a character whose entirely fictional history includes many realistically humorous interludes

: How can I keep my writing from being perceived as "too complicated" This is from a piece I wrote a couple of years back: The sky seemed like a big, large pool of grey smoke. The weather

: Should I send my manuscript again if I forgot the synopsis after sending it to a publisher? I emailed the manuscript and everything the guidelines said, and then realised the next morning I

: I'm not enjoying my attempt at a science-fiction novella; should I continue? I'm only 12, and I've been writing seriously since last year. I tried writing a novel before (I wrote only 5 chapters;

Login to post a comment!

0 Comments

Back to top