Should the names of characters be in quotes?

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 6/14/12 at 10:25pm

This is a question I've been pondering for some time. When discussing in print the characters in plays and films, should the names of the characters be placed inside quotation marks? Or shouldn't they? Or does it matter? Like, listing Vivian Blaine as "Adelaide" in press releases and scholarly journals. Or, casting notices like, "EPAs for the role of "Tony" in "West Side Story," or, in novels: "When I grow up, I want to be like "Stanley Kowalski" and tear my undershirt!" Is this practice clear, or mannered? What say ye, Message Board?

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 6/14/12 at 10:28pm

No, they shouldn't. Not unless it's a nickname, or something similar, that one character refers to them by.

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 6/14/12 at 10:46pm

And yet, I see this is press releases all the time. Maybe it's so that when they get to "Third Man" and "Girl with Tray" and use quotes there, it makes some sense alongside the characters who have names?

[macnyc]

Posted: 6/14/12 at 10:55pm

Names of characters should not be in quotes. If you see them in quotes, that's a mistake. Sadly, not all press releases are well edited.

[Proper Villain]

Posted: 6/14/12 at 11:44pm

According to the AP Style Book, no.