Quotation Marks

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Quotation marks are used to show quotes of speech or writing.

1. Quotation marks can be used to show actual words spoken or written.

Examples:
Anna looked up and said: "It's true. The dog ate the key."
       (The words within the quotation marks are the exact words that Anna said.)
Her performance proved beyond all doubt that she was "simply the best".
       (The words "simply the best" are a quote from a well-known song.)
The sign clearly states, "Thieves will be prosecuted."
       (These are the words that are on the sign.)

2.    When introducing a quotation with words like "He said", "She whispered", "It stated", etc., you can precede the quotation with either a comma or a colon. As a guideline, use commas for quotations that comprise fewer than 7 words and use colons for longer quotations.

Examples:
The prisoner uttered, "Leave me alone."
       (fewer than 7 words - use a comma)
The minister shouted: "Do not worry. The next time I stand up here, I will have
       answers to these questions."
       (7 words or more - use a colon)
Grandad looked at me over the top of his glasses and said, "I've seen it all and
       done it all. I just don't remember any of it." ^{(Mini Test)}

JUST QUOTATION MARKS

Quite often quotations are used without introductions like "He asked", "She yelled", "They wrote", etc. In these instances, no punctuation is required to introduce the quotation.

There really is "no place like home".

If this is the, "best skiing resort in France", I would hate to see
the worst. ^{(Mini Test)}

JUST FOR ACTUAL QUOTES

Quotation marks are not used for reported speech. (Reported speech is usually preceded by the word "that".) Only use them for actual quotes of speech or writing.

The secretary said, "The phones are dead."

The secretary said that the phones were dead.

(This is an example of reported speech.)

Edmund said that "he was a good boy".

(This is reported speech. Edmund actually
said, "I am a good boy.")

DON'T WORRY

The majority of people to not adhere to the guidelines regarding the use of commas and colons with quotations. Nowadays, it is acceptable to introduce a quotation with a comma, a colon or nothing. In modern writing, the choice of punctuation depends largely on the desired flow of the text (i.e. how much the writer wants the reader to pause).

3. There is only a choice between a comma and a colon when the quotation is being introduced. Only a comma can be used after a quotation.

For example:

Charlie looked over the hedge and shouted: "You can keep half of the
strawberries you pick."
(colon selected)

"You can keep half of the strawberries you pick", shouted Charlie, looking over the
hedge.
(In this example, a colon is not an option.)

IN OR OUT?

Consider whether punctuation should be inside or outside the quotation.
Did she really say, "I love you"?
       ("I love you" is not a question, but the whole sentence is.)
I heard him yell, "Do you love me?"
       (The whole sentence is not a question, but the quotation is a
        question.)
Did she really ask, "Do you love me?"?
       (Both are questions.)
[picture 1] [picture 2]

Technically speaking, the first and second examples above should be written:
Did she really say, "I love you."?
      (full stop after the sentence in the quotation)
I heard him yell, "Do you love me?".
      (full stop after the sentence)

However, a full stop or a question mark within a quotation at the end of sentence often negates the need for the real end punctuation. For example:
She looked in the oven and said: "Do you call that a Yorkshire
       pudding?"
       (This sentence could end in a full stop, but it would look unwieldy
        after the question mark and the quotation mark. Therefore, it
        is omitted.)

There is a lot on leniency on this subject. In general, you should choose the neatest end punctuation or the most appropriate.
"You can keep half of the strawberries you pick", shouted Charlie,
       looking over the hedge.
       (In this example, the writer opted not to use a full stop after
       "pick" even though it is the end of a sentence.)
Did she really ask, "Do you love me?"?
       (This is correct with two question marks. However, for tidiness,
        one question mark would suffice.)
Did she really ask, "Do you love me?"

4.    Use 3 dots to show parts of the quotation that are missing. (This is called ellipsis.)

Example:
Jameson promised: "In accordance with the statement, the bank will provide
       the services...outlined in the brochure."
       (The text between "services" and "outlined" has been deemed to be irrelevant.
        However, the three dots (called ellipsis) show the reader that text has been
        omitted.)

5.    If an ellipsis is used to replace words that end a quoted sentence, then it is usual to use 4 dots: three for the ellipsis and one (a full stop) to end the quotation.
"Fame is the spur...." (John Milton)

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Use quotation marks to indicate "alleged" or "so-called".

1. Quotation marks can be used to indicate "supposedly", "allegedly" or "so-called".

Examples:

Peter's "mates" left him on the path to die.

(so-called mates)

The sheep were noticeably stressed. It must've been a very big "cat".

      (In this example, the quotation marks play two roles. They are showing a
       quotation of somebody who claimed the culprit was a cat and infer so-called or
       alleged too.)

	[picture]

Using his father's equipment, Alexander found over 50,000 bacteria on a "clean"
chopping board. ^{(Mini Test)}

JUST SAY IT ONCE

Quotation marks can be used to indicate "alleged" or "so-called". There is no need to use these actual words when using quotation marks for this purpose.
Peter's so-called "mates" left him on the path to freeze.
(In this example, "so-called" and the quotation marks are doing
the same job. This is known as tautology.)
Peter's so-called mates left him on the path to freeze.
Peter's "mates" left him on the path to freeze.

[picture]

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Use quotation marks for the names of books, plays, films, articles, ships, aircraft, houses and hotels.

1. Quotation marks can be used to highlight the names of books, plays, films, articles, ships, aircraft, houses and hotels.

Examples:

Jeremy stayed at "The Dorchester" for 3 weeks last summer.

"Southern Stars" was Jones's account of the trek; I have read others that
contradict his version of events.

(In this example, it is useful to group the book title within quotation marks,
because "Stars" is a plural word and "was" is singular.)

I was certain the "Spruce Goose" was too heavy to fly. ^{(Mini Test)}

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Use single quotation marks within double quotation marks.

1. When using quotation marks, you should always start with double quotations marks (e.g. "like these"). If quotation marks are then required within that quotation, you should use single quotation marks.

Examples:

Anne asked: "Are you really going to see 'Phantom of the Opera'?"

The articles states: "A giant squid may have attacked the 'Marie Celeste' as the
crew celebrated on the deck."

	[picture]

The Defence Secretary stood up and declared: "At 0600 hours tomorrow, "Ark
Royal" will set sail with her full compliment of crew." ^{(Mini Test)}

DON'T WORRY

This is not a hard and fast rule. In fact, several grammar books recommend that doubles be used within singles. For example:
Clapping slowly, Julian stood up and cried: 'That was even better
than your performance of "Twelfth Night" in London last year.'

Many writers prefer to use single quotation marks because they look less unwieldy.
The 'a' has fallen off the sign.
The "a" has fallen off the sign.

In summary, a writer can use doubles or singles in the first instance. However, whichever style is chosen, its use should be consistent throughout the document.

	[picture]

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