Donald Lee Granberry wrote:

I suggest that "then" also qualifies for this rule.

Then that's the way I'll use it and Lord Redmond's Word be damned!

I certainly agree with the latter even without this context.  <grin>

I haven't used typographical conventions in the past and am not going to
start. There is NOTHING wrong with that phrase. It signals the reader that
the character is thinking rather than speaking leaving no room for error,
thus eliminating confusion.

Okay, no problem.  It is, after all, a stylistic issue rather than
a grammatical one, and style is a deeply personal thing.

One "limbers" a weapon when preparing to use it. 

Hm.  Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary gives no usage for
limber which corresponds to this.  Perhaps you mean "unlimber"?

Nuts! I'll re-write the bloody thing. I'm tempted to re-write the entire
chapter from scratch.

Well, I don't think *that's* necessary.  Most of the things people
are pointing out *are* style, not mechanics, after all.  If you 
feel comfortable with the style, there's no need to rebuild it.

I agree with Nick.  "Oh, no!" has no emotional weight whatsoever here.

We'll see. I'll watch reader responses carefully.

I'm afraid I have to concur with Nick and M Davis.  That was one of
two parts of this section that rang falsely for me.  

Okay, that tears it. I'll use some other exclamation. I don't know what I'll
have him say, but I'll have him say something else.

I wish you luck.  I think I know exactly the emotion you want to get
across at that moment, and I'm having a hard time coming up with
something that would be right and appropriate for Ranma to say.

television version of Soun, but still pretty close to Takahashi's original
version of him. Don't expect me to use him in that way.

Good. ...  Even in the anime, Soun doesn't cry *that* much.

Well, I'm glad someone agrees with me on this one. Soun is equally likely to
fly off into a blood curdling, or even blood thirsty rage as he is likely to
breakdown into tears. 

Yup.  Does the phrase "demon head" ring a bell for the readers, eh?  
Soun has some serious mood swings, and they ain't all into depression
and tears.

Notice also that he is rather fond of pole arms.

As I recall, the real-world Tendo Ryuu specializes in pole arms.
Naginata, specifically, I think. 

Thanks for helping clear some of this stuff up, Bob,

Not a problem.  I have this shelf of reference books over my computer for
my professional writing; it'd be a shame not to use them when needed here,
too.

-- Bob

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Robert M. Schroeck          rms@eclipse.net         http://www.eclipse.net/~rms
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Hijack, destruction and plot.
Our outraged reaction
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