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Quotation marks have several applications in writing, and one rule that always applies to their every use is that they are used in pairs. A single quotation mark can’t work alone because quotation marks enclose things between them.
Get insight into the different types of quotation marks and when to use them in your writing.
Then, conveniently review your writing for proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation with the Originality.ai Grammar Checker.
Quotation marks are also referred to as quote marks, quotes, or speech marks. There are two types of quotation marks:
The grammar rules below call for a set of double quotation marks (“ ”). When one requires a set of single quotation marks (‘ ’), it will be indicated.
The first quotation mark in a set is called the opening quotation mark and signifies the beginning of the quotation.
The last quotation mark is called the closing quotation mark and indicates the end of the quotation.
If you are using a curly font, the opening quotation mark curves with its opening to the right. The closing quotation mark curves with its opening to the left.
A direct quote is when you quote exact words verbatim. To signal that a statement, in whole or in part, is attributable to another source, a writer uses quotation marks to enclose the words. The source, however, goes outside the quotation marks.
In these examples, the entirety of a statement is quoted. The original source of the words is also part of the statement and lies outside the quotation marks.
Examples of fully quoted statements in a sentence:
If you want to use a part of a long statement as a quotation, you can paraphrase the statement and put the part you are drawing attention to in quotation marks.
Examples of partially quoted statements in a sentence:
What if you want to use a statement as a quotation, but that quotation already has quoted words within it?
This situation exemplifies why we have single quotation marks (‘ ’).
Doubling up on single and double quotes can get a little messy and cause some odd-looking end punctuation.
Sometimes, it’s just tidier to paraphrase, reword, and eliminate the single quotations if you don’t absolutely need them.
Example of an original text with a quotation in it:
I remember a friend saying, “It was very sunny this winter.”
Using that original text as a quotation:
Did you say, “I remember a friend saying, ‘It was very sunny this winter.’”?
Paraphrasing the original text:
Did you say you remembered a friend saying, “It was very sunny this winter?”
Dialogue uses quotation marks, also called speech marks, in just the same way a direct quote uses them. However, instead of a source to attribute the quotation to, you will have a dialogue tag to indicate who is saying the words and how they are saying them.
Examples of quotation marks in dialogue:
When quotation marks draw attention to a word, term, or phrase, they might also be called scare quotes, shudder quotes, or sneer quotes. These terms are used to call attention to a word (or distance a writer from it) and its supposed meaning or intended use.
They can be effective when used carefully but shouldn’t be overused.
Examples of quotations used to draw emphasis:
Depending on the editorial style guide used by your organization, you might put titles of work, such as books, movies, works of art, plays and songs, in quotation marks or italics.
If you use AP style, for instance, titles of works are put in quotation marks:
Examples of quotation marks to indicate a title:
AP is a news-based style that can differ from academic and book guidelines. Consult your organization’s style guide to confirm when to use quotation marks in the titles of works.
No matter what editorial style you follow, English grammar rules describe how to handle the use of quotation marks in combination with other punctuation.
When the end of the quotation is also the end of a sentence, put the period inside the closing quotation mark. This rule is easy to remember because there are no exceptions.
Example of a quotation mark with a period at the end of a sentence:
Commas and quotation marks are most often seen in dialogue.
The comma always goes inside the closing quotation mark when the dialogue tag follows.
If the dialogue tag precedes the quotation or dialogue, then the comma goes before the opening quotation mark.
Examples of where to use commas with quotation marks:
Note that when the quotation precedes the dialogue tag, the comma not only goes inside the closing quote mark but also replaces the period that would have otherwise ended that quotation.
The way question marks and exclamation points work with quotation marks depends on how much of the sentence it relates to or modifies.
If a question mark (?) or exclamation point (!) is part of the quotation it goes inside the closing quotation mark.
However, there are scenarios where it goes outside of the quotation marks.
For example, you are writing a sentence where the entire sentence is the question or the exclamation. In this case, add the punctuation outside the quotation marks.
Examples of quotation marks and exclamation points:
If you are writing a sentence that includes quotation marks and colons, or semicolons, put the punctuation outside the closing quotation marks.
Examples of quotation marks with colons or semicolons:
As mentioned above, sometimes you may encounter a quotation within a passage you are using as a quotation. In this situation, place the single quotation mark on the inside and the double quotation mark on the outside. Keep in mind, that there’s no additional space between the single and double quotation marks.
Example of quotation marks with single quotation marks:
Did you say, “I remember a friend saying, ‘The skiing was excellent this winter.’”?
Quotation marks have many uses and are important signposts to the reader. Remember that they always work in pairs; pay attention to the end punctuation, and you’re on your way!
Are you wondering if you’ve included quotation marks correctly in your writing? Review your content with the Originality.ai Grammar Checker!
Then, get tips and grammar best practices in our top guides:
