Quotation Mark Rules

Define Quotation Marks
<noun>
  • A punctuation mark represented by: ' or "
    • American English:
      • single quote: '
      • double quotes: "
    • British English:
      • single inverted comma: '
      • double inverted commas: "
  • Used to indicate the start and end of a title or a quote
When to Use
  • When quoting the EXACT words someone said, wrote, or sang
    • example:  He said, "Let's go."
  • When writing a paper or article and quoting someone word for word
    • example"To be or not to be" is probably the most famous line in literature.
  • To show a dialog between two or more people
    • example:  Jack asked her, "Did you see that?" Jill replied, "Of course I did. It was beautiful!"
  • When referencing a title of a song, story, book, essay, article, or TV episode.
    • example:  Have you heard "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," by Joan Jett?
Rule 1
  • American English:
    • Write " at the start and end of a quote or title
      • example:  She said, "Come here!"
    • A quote inside a quote is marked by ' at the start and end
      • example:  The teacher asked, "Have you ever heard of the quote, 'To be or not to be'?"
  • British English:
    • Write ' at the start and end of a quote or title
      • example:  She said, 'Come here!'
    • A quote inside a quote is marked by " at the start and end
      • example:  The teacher asked, 'Have you ever heard of the quote, "To be or not to be"?'
Rule 2
  • Always capitalize the first letter of the first word in a quote or title.
    • example:  He asked her, "Have you read 'Taken: The coldest case ever solved,' by Ann O'Neill?"
Rule 3
  • Include periods and commas inside the quote
    • example 1:  Jill said, "I am going home now."
    • example 2:  "I am going to the store," she said.
  • Question marks go inside a quote (or title) if the quote is a question. Otherwise, placed them outside the quote.
    • example 1:  Mike asked, "Have you been here before?"
    • example 2:  Have you heard Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n' Roll"?
Rule 4
  • Do NOT use quotation marks with indirect quotes
    • example:  He asked her to come closer.

Cite This Source

Fun Fact
Noon” comes from a Latin
word that means ninth.

Examples

  • She texted, "How far are you?"
  • He wrote, "I'll see you soon."
  • The lyrics are, "So call me maybe."
  • "Taken: The coldest case ever solved," by Ann O'Neill is an amazing piece of journalism.
  • My favorite episode from Everybody Loves Raymond is "The Can Opener."
  • Jack asked, "Did you hear her sing 'I Love Rock 'n' Roll'?"
  • Mike asked, "Have you been here before?"
  • Have you heard Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n' Roll"?
  • She asked him to walk her to the park.
  • Mom wanted us to walk to school together.
  • He asked her to come closer.
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