Are you using quotation marks properly? Mastering them takes practice, but you’ll feel more confident afterward.
In this blog, we’ll explore how to use quotation marks correctly and clearly. Let’s get started!
Quotation marks are pairs of punctuation marks (“ ”) that show when someone is speaking or to highlight specific titles or terms. They help readers understand who said what, or if a word or phrase has a particular meaning.
When you see quotation marks, you know to pay extra attention to the words inside them.
Brief History
In the mid-1500s, a printer named Morel used a comma in the margin to show a quoted line. Around 100 years later, Ménage introduced marks (« ») that look like double parentheses.
English printers decided to use two inverted commas (“) at the start and two apostrophes (”) at the end of a quote. Because these marks sit high on the line, they can make spacing look a bit awkward, and some style rules about punctuation placement come from these old printing practices rather than from logic alone.
Related Reading: Simple Tips to Perfect Your Punctuation
Style Guides
Different style guides, like MLA, APA, and Chicago, have slightly different rules for quotation marks. It’s good to learn the basics and then check your specific style guide if you’re writing a formal paper.
Choose a style and stick with it. If you decide to use double quotation marks for most things, keep that consistent throughout your piece.
Quotations Types
There are two main types of quotations.
Direct Quotations
Always use double quotation marks (“ ”) whenever you are directly quoting someone else’s words.
♦ Example: Sarah said, “I love ice cream.”
Indirect Quotations
These share the main idea of what someone said, but not their exact words. You don’t use quotation marks for indirect quotations.
♦ Example: Sarah said she loves ice cream.
Related Reading: Why The Period Is So Important
Rules for Quotation Marks
How do we know when to use quotation marks? Let’s Explore
Direct Speech
If you want to show someone’s exact words.
♦ Example: My friend said, “Let’s go to the park today.”
Titles
If you name a short story, poem, article, or song, you usually put the title in quotation marks. Sometimes we use italics depending on the style guide you are using.
♦ Example: I just read the article “The Rainy Day” in our school newsletter.
We don’t need quotation marks for very famous works (like the Bible, Paradise Lost, The Iliad) because they are well known.
The titles of books, etc., are sometimes printed in italics instead of being enclosed in quotation marks.
Special Terms or Words
If you have a word that’s used in an unusual or ironic way, put it in quotation marks.
♦ Example: He called his messy room “organized chaos.
Common Uses of the Quotation Mark
What are the quotation mark rules?
Emphasis or Irony
Sometimes quotation marks are used to give a word an unusual meaning, a sarcastic tone, or to highlight it specially
♦ Example: This “expert” made several basic mistakes.
Foreign Language Sentences
Foreign-language sentences are usually in quotes, while single foreign words or phrases are often in italics. Do not use italics and quotation marks together except under unusual circumstances.
Long Paragraphs
When a quote spans multiple paragraphs, use quotation marks at the beginning of each paragraph and at the very end. Don’t put quotation marks around each sentence in a block quote.
Alternatively, you can format it as a “block quote” without quotation marks. The passage is usually indented and set apart from the main text.
In Poetry
If you start quoting poetry at the beginning of a line, the quotation marks move back into the indented area.
♦ Example:
“Breathes there a man with soul so dead
Who never to himself hath said,
‘This is my own, my native land’?”
Notice how the single quotes enclose the inside quote, while the question mark ends the entire sentence, and then the double quotes come last.
Short Quotes
If you are just quoting one or two words in a sentence, you usually don’t need punctuation before the quote unless it naturally fits (like a comma).
Quotation Marks and Other Punctuation
You might be wondering, how does other punctuation work with quotation marks?
Commas and Periods
In English, commas and periods go inside the closing quotation marks if it is the end of the sentence.
♦ Example: “I’m so tired,” he yawned.
Semicolons and Colons
Semicolons and colons normally go outside closing quotation marks unless they’re part of the quoted material. A colon (:) often comes before a longer or more formal quotation.
Quotations Within Quotations
They go inside the quotation marks if they’re part of what someone said, and outside if they’re part of your sentence.
♦ Example: She asked, “Are we going home soon?”
♦ Example: Did she say, “We’re going home soon”?
Semicolons and Colons
Semicolons and colons normally go outside closing quotation marks unless they’re part of the quoted material. A colon (:) often comes before a longer or more formal quotation.
Quotations Within Quotations
If you need to quote something inside another quotation, use single quotation marks (‘ ’) inside the double ones (“ ”).
♦ Example: “Then he shouted, ‘Run for cover!’ and we all hurried inside,” explained Max.
Common Mistakes
What common mistakes to people make with quotation marks? Let’s explore.
Misplacing Punctuation
Be careful where you put commas, periods, question marks, and exclamation points.
Mixing Up Single and Double Quotes
Use double quotation marks for most cases in English.
Forgetting to Capitalize Properly
If you start a new sentence inside quotation marks, it should begin with a capital letter.
Related Reading: Mastering the Colon: A Simple Guide
Punctuation Exercises
Punctuate the following sentences with quotation marks.
- Where is my backpack asked Sam who couldn’t find it anywhere.
- My favourite poem is The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost.
- Sarah said she was feeling better but I could tell she still had a fever.
- Tim exclaimed I can’t wait for the weekend.
- When the movie ended she whispered That was so good.
- The teacher asked if everyone had finished their homework.
- In the article Rising Tides the author explains climate change in simple terms.
- He called the messy room organized chaos.
- Jill wondered what the word zephyr meant.
- Our coach always shouts Keep going when we are ready to give up.
Click on the + button for the answers
- “Where is my backpack?” asked Sam, who couldn’t find it anywhere.
- My favorite poem is “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost.
- Sarah said she was “feeling better,” but I could tell she still had a fever.
- Tim exclaimed, “I can’t wait for the weekend!”
- When the movie ended, she whispered, “That was so good!”
- The teacher asked if everyone had finished their homework.
- In the article “Rising Tides,” the author explains climate change in simple terms.
- He called the messy room “organized chaos.”
- Jill wondered what the word “zephyr” meant.
- Our coach always shouts, “Keep going!” when we’re ready to give up.
Key Takeaways
1. Use Quotation Marks: Use quotes for direct speech, titles, special terms, and long foreign phrases.
2. Different Style Guides Have Slightly Different Rules: Citation styles (MLA, APA, Chicago) vary; check your style guide.
3. Commas and periods: Commas and periods go inside closing quotes; semicolons and colons stay outside.
4. Question marks and exclamation points: These go inside if they’re part of the quote, outside if they’re part of your sentence.
5. Long or Complex Quotes: Long or complex quotes start each paragraph with an opening quote mark, but place a closing quote mark only at the end of the entire passage.
Last Words on Quotation Marks
Quotation marks let your reader know exactly who’s speaking or that you’re highlighting certain words for a special reason. Correct use of quotation marks helps your readers understand your message clearly.
Happy writing!
Linda
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