We were discussing punctuation in Writing Techniques for Translators class today, and I was asked to punctuate this sentence (the exercise was on using exclamation points):
I added the exclamation point the exercise called for and punctuated it as:
But the prof said this was wrong, and that I needed a comma before the quotation:
Of course you need a comma before a regular quotation, but having it before a one-word quotation looks positively bizarre to me. It looks as if the writer’s being paid by the punctuation mark. What about sentences like:
I don’t think the number of words in the quotation has anything to do with it.
The Chicago Manual of Style (Fourteenth Edition) says: “Quotations – whether sentences, phrases, or words – incorporated within sentences are punctuated according to the grammatical function they perform within the sentence. Quotations serving as subjects, predicate nominatives, or predicate adjectives, for example, are not set off by commas unless they also serve as dialogue.” It provides several examples, including, *Morgenstern’s favorite evasion was “If only I had time.” *
Which seems to me to be analogous to your first example.
However, your other examples are a mix of cases. I’d go the following way:
She said, “Yes.” [Because the quotation is a complete sentence.]
He said “Please” and “Thank you.”
I screamed “No!” repeatedly.
Eric looked puzzled, and asked, “Who?” [Again, a complete sentence.]
The gay bashers screamed “Faggot!” at their victim.
I think your prof is applying a rule absolutely, without observing the principles behind it. (FYI: I’m a professional editor, writer, and publisher.)