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Quotation marks ( " ) are placed around (at the beginning and at the end) the exact words or keystrokes of a speaker or writer.
Quotation marks may also be used to set off the titles of certain publicaitons and to show that a or phrase is used in a special way.
In traditional common usage, any added punctuation marks are placed inside the quotes - such as periods, exclamation points and question marks (. ! ?).
A comma inside the ending quotation mark is used to seperate a quotation from the rest of a sentence.
If an exclamation point or question mark is inside the quotation mark is refers to the quotation; if placed outside then is refers to the main sentence.
Semicolons or colons are placed outside the quotation marks.
When quoting a quotation, single quotes ( ' ) are used for the inner quote and double quotes ( " ) are used for the outer quote.
When punctuating a title, capitalize the first word, the last word and all other words except for articles, short prepositions and coordinating conjunctions.
In reports, longer quotations of a paragraph or more in are often set off by centering 1 tab in from the left and right margins without any quotation marks.
However, traditionally in multi-paragraph quotations the quotation was indented only from the left margin and each paragraph got a leading " and a trailing " was placed after the last paragraph.
To avoid confusion in modern computer and technical applications, where keystroke accuracy is required, added punctation marks are placed outside the quotation marks. |
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Quotation Marks - Usage Examples
| Common |
"Who took my shoes?" asked Jammie. |
| Common |
Bill interrupted, "That idea is foolish!" |
| Seperation |
"We sell red shoes," stated the store president. |
| Computer |
The password is "open", said the programmer. |
| Quoting a quotation |
"When Jim said, 'Kiss me,' I was happy," said Monica. |
| Semicolon |
First, I will read "The Great Story Book"; then, I will read, "The Little Story Book." |
| To show special meaning |
That is one "bad" looking car.
Where bad actually good or pretty. |
| Outside Punctuation |
Did he say, "The project is due today"?
The question mark refers to the main sentence idea - Did he say |
| Titles |
"A Teenager's Role in Deep Sea Diving" |
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