Quotation marks (“ “)

Definition:
Quotation marks are a type of punctuation with several different functions. They indicate a quotation or
direct speech and set words and passages apart from the rest of the text. They signal the use of someone
else’s words to help distinguish between the source’s voice and the quoted material. Quotation marks are
also used to indicate the titles of creative works and highlight specific terms or phrases, often emphasizing
tone.

Example : “How do we use quotation marks ?” the student asked their teacher.

When to use quotation marks

Use quotation marks to draw attention to words or language in your writing. It helps to break down the
rules for when to use quotation marks by their function. Below, we list the seven main uses for quotation
marks.

1. To quote a source directly or indirectly

Direct quotes:

A Direct quote uses the exact words from a source and require quotation marksUse quotation marks to
indicate a direct quote or passage copied verbatim from another source. If you’re using the same word,
sentence, or phrase as another author, put those words between quotation marks. This is most common in
nonfiction writing when a writer uses a phrase or sentence from a preexisting source, usually to support
their thesis.

Example :Stephen Hawking warned that the Higgs boson could potentially lead to “catastrophic vacuum
decay” in the universe, caused by “a bubble of the true vacuum expanding at the speed of light.”

Indirect quotes:

Indirect quotes restate or paraphrase those words or ideas and don’t require quotation marks .

An indirect quote lets you capture or summarize what someone said or wrote without using their exact
words. It helps to convey the tone or meaning of your source without quoting them directly.

Example :Stephen Hawking warned of the Higgs boson’s potentially disastrous effect on the universe.

2. To show dialogue or transcribe speech

Use quotation marks to represent speech in written text. In nonfiction, they’re commonly used to transcribe
a person’s statement, as with an interview or eyewitness account. In fiction, they’re used for writing
dialogue or whenever a character says something out loud

Example : “Where is the emergency room?” he asked the nurse urgently.

3. To signal the titles of creative works

Aside from quotes and speech, English also uses quotation marks for the titles of creative works. Certain
types of works—but not all—use quotation marks around their titles so the reader knows the work is a
reference.

Example : Written by Sylvia Plath, “Tulips” is a sad poem with a happy title.

4. To set apart a word to show irony, sarcasm, or skepticism (scare quotes)

Scare quotes are used to show that the writer doubts the validity of a word. They commonly show irony,
sarcasm, or how something is “popularly termed.” They can have the same meaning as the phrase so-
called, including suspicious insinuation. Scare quotes generally appear as quotation marks around a single
word or sometimes a phrase. They also require the proper context so the reader understands why the writer
doubts or is qualifying the word’s usage. Scare quotes in writing are the origin of the air quotes gesture in
in-person speech.

Example : My “pet” is really just a stray cat that comes by once a day.

5. To discuss words

If you want to discuss a word, phrase, or letter in writing without using its intended meaning, set it apart
with quotation marks. Depending on the styling format, some writers alternatively use italics without
quotation marks.

Example : The “p” in “pterodactyl” is actually silent.

6. To differentiate a nickname from a given name

If you write a person’s nickname alongside their given name, set it apart with quotation marks so the
reader knows it’s not part of their formal name. The standard is to place the quoted nickname between the
first name and the surname, although that’s not necessarily a rule.

Example : Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson can’t escape his origins as a wrestler.

No quotes are necessary if the nickname is how a famous person is most commonly recognized, as with
many historical figures.

7. To indicate inches for height

Using quotation marks to indicate height is informal yet widely accepted. The quotation mark is typically
used to denote inches, and the apostrophe denotes feet. To indicate the measurement correctly, place the
marks directly after the number with no space.

Example : For someone who is five feet six inches tall: 5’6”
When to use single and Double quotation marks
One of the most common points of confusion with quotes is when to use single versus double quotation
marks. In American English, single quotation marks are used only for quotes that appear inside other
quotes. For example, if you’re quoting a passage that already features a quote, use double quotation marks
for the main quote and single quotation marks for the quote within a quote.

Example : “My last boss used to always say, ‘You sell more before lunch than the others sell in a week .’ ”
Amira mentioned in her job interview.

Rules for quotation marks

1. Use quotation marks in pairs
Quotation marks come in pairs, with an opening quotation mark at the beginning and a closing one at the
end of the quote. This signals the beginning and end of direct speech or quoted material and helps
differentiate it from the surrounding text.

Example : “The situation is under control,” the manager announced.

2. Place punctuation marks inside quotation mark

A) Using commas with quotation marks

Place a comma inside the quotation marks at the end of a quoted phrase.

Example : “Take off your dirty shoes before coming into the house,” my father said

Because you want to attach the speaker to their dialogue, use a comma rather than a period to end the
quote inside the quotation marks.

B) Breaking up a quote with commas

If you’re breaking up a quotation, place a comma after the first part of the quote (inside quotation marks),
followed by a comma and space before the second part (outside the quotation marks). Place both parts of
the quote within their own set of quotation marks.

Example : “My goodness,” said my father, “take off your dirty shoes before coming into the house.”

Here, commas distinguish the spoken words from the rest of the sentence. The commas separate the direct
speech of the father (“My goodness,” at the beginning, and “take off your dirty shoes before coming into
the house” at the end) from the reporting clause (“said my father”).

\You can skip the comma before or after the quote for short quotes or phrases within a sentence if they
flow naturally.

Example : My father said my shoes were “too dirty” to wear into the house.
Using periods with quotation marks

Place the period inside the quotation marks when a quotation comes at the end of a sentence. The
quotation can be introduced with a transitional phrase followed by a comma, helping separate the spoken
words from the rest of the sentence.

Example : Before I entered the house, my father said, “Take off your dirty shoes.”

Using a period elsewhere inside quotation marks is correct if your quoted material includes multiple
sentences. Place a comma inside the quotation mark if using a reporting clause after the quote.

Example : “I just mopped the floors. Take off your dirty shoes before coming into the house,”

said my father.

C) Using colons with quotation marks

Colons are typically placed outside quotation marks unless they are part of the quoted material.

Example : When I was growing up, my father must have said this a thousand times: “Take off your dirty
shoes before coming into the house.”

When a colon is part of the quoted material, place it inside the quotation marks to indicate that what
follows it elaborates on or continues the thought introduced before the colon.

Example : “Here’s what I want you to do: Take off your dirty shoes before coming into the house, try your
best to keep the entryway clean, and use the mop when you make a mess,” my father said.

D) Using semicolons with quotation marks

As with a colon, place a semicolon outside quotation marks regardless of whether it’s before or after a
quotation.

Example : My father said, “Take off your dirty shoes before you come into the house”; they weren’t even
dirty to begin with.

Use a semicolon inside quotation marks when it’s part of the quoted material.

Example : “Take off your filthy shoes before coming into the house; helping keep the house clean is up to
all of us,” said my father.

3. Do question marks and exclamation marks go inside quotes?

If the question mark or exclamation mark is part of the quote, place it inside the quotation marks.

Example: She asked, “Will this be on the test?”

Example : “We won!” shouted the coach to no one in particular.

If the question mark or exclamation mark is not part of the quote but part of a question or statement, place
it outside the quotation marks.

Example : Did they just say “free pizza”?

Example : They just said “free pizza”!

4. Capitalize the first letter of the quoted sentence

If you’re quoting a complete sentence, capitalize the first letter of the first word, just like a typical sentence.
But suppose you place the quotation mid-sentence, forming a syntactical part of the sentence. In that case,
it begins with a lowercase letter, even if the original sentence begins with a capitalized letter.

Example : The letter opened with, “We regret to inform you your application has been denied.”

Example : Anne Frank reminded us that “whoever is happy will make others happy too.”

However, no capitalization is necessary if you’re not quoting a complete sentence. This includes individual
words, phrases, or separate clauses.

Example : The manager said that the situation was “under control.”

5. Include an opening quotation mark at the beginning of each new quoted paragraph

Some quoted passages are longer than others. If you’re quoting two or more paragraphs, place opening
quotation marks at the beginning of each new paragraph. But make sure to place closing quotation marks
only at the end of the entire passage, not at the end of each paragraph.

Example : Here’s what the email said:

“It’s been a long time. I hope you’re well. I’m writing because I’m coming to Atlanta for work, and I was
wondering if you’d like to meet up.”

So in short quotation is :
Function : Quotation marks primarily set apart certain words, usually to indicate direct quotes and to
signify the titles of certain works or that a phrase does not use a word’s intended meaning.

Use: Quotation marks are used to indicate a direct quote, transcribe speech to text, signify titles of small
works like poems, show that the validity of a word is in doubt, discuss words as words without referencing
their intended meaning, and set apart nicknames from formal names.