Revised as of
1 Apr 2023
The current American fashion requires that the most frequent punctuation — commas and periods — goes inside the quotation mark (all the rest, usually, goes outside).
The previous American fashion and the current British (and all countries and territories associated with England) use a consistent logic which depends upon context to determine whether punctuation is placed inside or outside the closing quotation mark.
Dependent Upon Context
When one uses context [British style] to determine the placement of punctuation:
- If the sentence is a complete quote, then the punctuation goes inside
- If the quoted text is simply part of a sentence, it goes on the outside unless the quoted text is using ending punctuation such as a question or exclamation mark or a comma which is part of the quote itself
- Dialogue is something completely different
Quoted material is part of the sentence:
My brother threatened that if I ate any more of his Cheetos, he’d “stuff a whole apple down my throat”.
Dialogue / Verbatim:
Paul said, “If you eat any more of my Cheetos, I’ll stuff a whole apple down your throat!”
British style is my preference. Hopefully this will explain why you’ll find my ending punctuation contrary to the current fashion.
Quotation Marks in History
If you’ve read any primary source material, you have probably come across the use of commas as quotation marks. It wasn’t until the early eighteenth century that English printers started using this new mark, and by the last half of that century, the quotation mark — both double and single — were becoming more popular.
Straight Quotes versus Curly Quotes
Once the word processor arrived, the powers that be were able to get even more finicky by insisting that straight double quotes are actually double primes and should be used strictly for measuring notations, i.e., inches, arcseconds, or seconds of time while single quotes are really single primes and used for denoting feet or minutes.
The curly quote is everything else. And also known as, smart quotes, typographer’s quotation marks, curved quotes, typeset quotes, or book quotes. Unfortunately, the Internet freaks out with curly quotes so you must either replace them with straight quotes or use character encoding (and the right font!) to ensure your curlies stay curved. You’ll also have to pay attention to whether you need a right-facing curl or a left-facing one!
Manually Create Curly Quotes
You should be able to set your Preferences in your word processing program for curly quotes or straight quotes. If you can’t do this (or your font choice doesn’t have curly quotes), you can manually create them.
On a Mac
Press down the OPTION key and then type the preferred bracket for an opening quote. For the closing quote, hold down OPTION + SHIFT and then type the bracket.
OPTION + [ = opening curly double quotation mark (right-facing)
OPTION + SHIFT + [ = closing curly double quotation mark (left-facing)
OPTION + ] = opening curly single quotation mark (right-facing)
OPTION + SHIFT + ] = closing curly single quotation mark (left-facing)
On a PC
Press down the ALT key and then type the number.
ALT + 0147 = opening curly double quotation mark (right-facing)
ALT + 0148 = closing curly double quotation mark (left-facing)
ALT + 0145 = opening curly single quotation mark (right-facing)
ALT + 0146 = closing curly single quotation mark (left-facing)
The Properly Punctuated explores . . .
. . . the proper use of quotation marks, commas, semicolons, colons, ellipsis, etc., including how to properly mark dialog, ahem. As Properly Punctuated is in no way complete, I would appreciate suggestions and comments from anyone on punctuation with which you struggle or on which you can contribute more understanding.
If you found this post on “Quotation Marks” interesting, consider subscribing to KD Did It, if you’d like to track this post for future updates.
| Quotation Marks, ‘ ’ and “ ” | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Punctuation & Formatting: ‘ ’ and “ ” | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: I will be referring to quotation marks by their full name as well as referring to them as single or double quotes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General Rule: Quotation marks are placed inside any ending punctuation. Naturally, there are exceptions. Sort of.
A.k.a. book quote, curved quote, inverted comma [British], quote, quote mark, smart quote, speech mark, typeset quote, typographer’s quotation mark |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Types of Quotes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Single Quotation Mark
‘ |
Rule: In the U.S., single quotation marks are secondary and placed within double quotes (see Single Quotation Marks).
The British use single quotes as the primary in dialogue with the double quotes used inside singles. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
Henry asked, “Wasn’t it Niccolo Machiavelli who said that ‘Never was anything great achieved without danger’?”
BCBT: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Double Quotation Mark
“ |
Rule: In the U.S., double quotes are always the primary quotation mark; single quotes are secondary and placed within double quotes (see Single Quotation Marks).
The British do the reverse in dialogue with single quotes as primary and the double quotes used inside singles. An exception is if you are quoting someone using British English, then use double quotes. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
“Never was anything great achieved without danger.” – Niccolo Machiavelli
BCBT: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Straight Quotation Mark
‘ “ |
Rule: Straight quotation marks were the original typewriter-style marks used; you’ll have to use these whenever you intend to upload your manuscript to a website, blog, or as an ebook UNLESS you replace them with an entity name or number (the preferred quote mark), which you can do by manually including the character code, by using CSS code, or using a plug-in.
The only place you truly should use straight quotes are when coding. A.k.a. dumb quote |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
q, blockquote{ quotes: “\201C” “\201D” “\2018” “\2019”; } |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Curly Quotation Mark
‘_’ “_” |
Rule: Curly quotation marks are typographic marks. You can set Preferences in your word processing program to substitute “curly quotes” for the standard straight ones.
Do be aware that if you are writing for the Internet or an ebook, you cannot use curly quotes, unless you use the character codes, a.k.a., HTML entity. Wikipedia has a great display of quotation mark glyphs. Whether your curly quote actually shows as curly will also depend upon the font you’ve chosen. For example, Verdana doesn’t show curly quotes while Helvetica does. A.k.a. curled quote, curling quote, curly quote, curved quote, smart quote |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Right Curly Quote
’ |
Rule: Use a right curly quote preceding a word or used with an archaic contraction.
To create the right curly quote:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
’Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished –Shakespeare, Hamlet
“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself, and falls on the other.” – Shakespeare, MacBeth “The snowdrop and primrose our woodlands adorn, and violets bathe in the wet o’ the morn.” – Robert Burns |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Quote Marks Used by Other Countries | Not all countries use American/British quotation marks. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guillemet ‹ › « » |
Rule: The French only use double guillemets with a thin space between the quillemet and the text: « like this ».
The Italians use a double guillemet for its primary quotation mark and double quotes for its secondary mark. A guillemet is NOT two angle brackets but a single glyph. There are two types of guillemets:
A.k.a. angle, Castilian quote, chevron, French quotation mark, French quote, Latin quote, sideways double chevron, Spanish quote Credit to: Guillemet |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime
′ ″ |
Definition: Typographic symbols commonly used to indicate feet and inches, minutes and seconds, and typographic points. They are also used in specific areas of expertise such as mathematics, statistics, the sciences, linguistics, and music. They are NOT quotation marks. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| When to Capitalize the Start of a Quote | Rule: A complete quotation should always be capitalized at its start, even if it occurs mid-sentence. Also see the post on “Dialogue“. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
Bill said, “That job we started last April is done.”
Jimmy asked, “Are we there yet?” In his Gettysburg address, Lincoln stated that “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal”, and this statement has been expanded to include ALL men. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Always Use Quotation Marks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Quote Verbatim | Definition: Quoting directly from a source.
Rule: APA: If the quote consists of 40 words or fewer, use a double quotation mark directly before and after the quoted text with the source cited within the ending period. If the quote consists of 40 words or more, use a block quote. Long instructions are set apart in a block quote. Credit to: APA, 34-35 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
Current Fashion & Old Fashioned: “Reproducing material from a test item or verbatim instructions to participants.” Current Fashion: Old Fashioned & BCBT: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Articles Chapters Posts |
Rule: Chicago requires titles of articles or chapters be set apart from other text. AP has no requirement. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
Current Fashion: The Week ran an article, “The Secrets of Supermassive Black Holes,” in its December 23, 2011 issue. Old Fashioned & BCBT: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short Stories Poem Essay TV or Radio Program Episode |
Rule: A good general rule is that if a title is part of a larger composition *, put it in quotes. The short story and essay goes in quotes because full-length books are bigger; poems are usually part of a collection; and a radio or television program is in italics, but the individual episode is in quotes.
* A composition is a creative, journalistic, or scholarly enterprise that is whole, complex, a thing unto itself. This includes books, movies, plays, TV shows, newspapers, magazines, websites, music albums, operas, musical theater, paintings, sculptures, and other works of art (Quotation). |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
ALL: “The End of the World” is an episode from Dr. Who. One of the episodes on the TED Radio Hour was Deborah Gordon’s “Why Don’t Ants Need A Leader?” Current Fashion: Old Fashioned & BCBT: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Song Title | Rule: Song titles are set apart from other text. (Music albums are always italicized.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
“Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star“ is one of the first songs beginning instrumentalists learn.
Current Fashion: Old Fashioned & BCBT: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Be Careful Using Quotation Marks For: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ironic Comment, Slang, Invented or Coined Expression |
Rule: “Introducing a word or phrase used as an ironic comment, slang, or an invented or coined expression, but only the first time the word or phrase is used” ( APA, 34).
One way to determine if it is irony is if you can insert the word so-called. Hedging is completely different. Also see the post, “The Silent Comedian, or When Quotes = Sarcasm“. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
The five-year-old prepared a “gourmet” breakfast for his mother on Mother’s Day.
He’s one of the “fifty something” crowd. She said the part was “the bee’s knees”. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Block Quote | Definition: A chunk of text that is set apart from the standard text. Each style guide (and many publishers with their own in-house rules) has specific requirements on how many lines or words are required before a block format is necessary as well as how to format a block quote, although, the basics generally include:
In some cases, two or more short quotations may be put in block format so that readers can easily compare them (Einsohn). |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
When a block quote is required within the text, the general suggestions include (and I’m sampling all the options *grin*):
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer adipiscing justo a arcu rutrum et auctor nibh sollicitudin. Nullam facilisis tristique purus, non volutpat purus fermentum sit amet. Vestibulum cursus, nisi eu elementum vehicula, lacus elit pharetra risus, non interdum nunc ipsum nec felis. Nullam id est odio. Proin scelerisque eros vel risus gravida posuere pharetra arcu aliquet. Mauris sit amet tortor massa, imperdiet rutrum sem. In nec sapien urna. Praesent convallis elit quis nisi luctus suscipit. Vivamus at risus a nunc sollicitudin aliquam sed ut augue. Sed nec odio in arcu vestibulum volutpat. Morbi interdum blandit felis, ac blandit ligula porttitor in. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AP Stylebook | Rule: If quoted material runs four or more lines in text, it is better to use a block quotation.
Appearance:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
When a block quote is required within the text, AP rules call for:
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer adipiscing “justo a arcu rutrum et auctor nibh” sollicitudin. “Nullam id est odio. Proin ‘scelerisque eros vel risus gravida’ posuere pharetra arcu aliquet.” Mauris sit amet tortor massa, imperdiet rutrum sem. In nec sapien urna. Praesent convallis elit quis nisi luctus suscipit. If not using a block quote, AP rules call for: “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer adipiscing ‘justo a arcu rutrum et auctor nibh’ sollicitudin. Nullam facilisis tristique purus, non volutpat purus fermentum sit amet. Vestibulum cursus, nisi eu elementum vehicula, lacus elit pharetra risus, non interdum nunc ipsum nec felis. ‘Nullam id est odio. Proin “scelerisque eros vel risus gravida” posuere pharetra arcu aliquet.’ “Mauris sit amet tortor massa, imperdiet rutrum sem. In nec sapien urna. Praesent convallis elit quis nisi luctus suscipit. Vivamus at risus a nunc sollicitudin aliquam sed ut augue. Sed nec odio in arcu vestibulum volutpat. Morbi interdum blandit felis, ac blandit ligula porttitor in.” |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| APA | Rule: Block quotes should be used if it uses 40 words or more.
Appearance:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
When a block quote is required within the text, APA rules call for: Single Paragraph: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer adipiscing justo a arcu rutrum et auctor nibh sollicitudin. Nullam facilisis tristique purus, non volutpat purus fermentum sit amet. Vestibulum cursus, nisi eu elementum vehicula, lacus elit pharetra risus, non interdum nunc ipsum nec felis. Nullam id est odio. Proin scelerisque eros vel risus gravida posuere pharetra arcu aliquet. Mauris sit amet tortor massa, imperdiet rutrum sem. In nec sapien urna. (p. 345). Multiple Paragraphs: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer adipiscing justo a arcu rutrum et auctor nibh sollicitudin. Nullam facilisis tristique purus, non volutpat purus fermentum sit amet. Vestibulum cursus, nisi eu elementum vehicula, lacus elit pharetra risus, non interdum nunc ipsum nec felis. Nullam id est odio. Proin scelerisque eros vel risus gravida posuere pharetra arcu aliquet. Mauris sit amet tortor massa, imperdiet rutrum sem. In nec sapien urna. (p. 345). |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chicago | Rule: In general, create a block quote if the quotation is 100 words or more OR a minimum of 8 lines. Exceptions include:
Appearance:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
See the example under the general block quote rules. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MLA | Rule: Block quotes should be used when the quotation is four lines or longer on a page.
Appearance:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
When a block quote is required within the text, MLA rules call for:
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer adipiscing justo a arcu rutrum et auctor nibh sollicitudin. Nullam facilisis tristique purus, non volutpat purus fermentum sit amet. Nullam id est odio. Proin scelerisque eros vel risus gravida posuere pharetra arcu aliquet. Mauris sit amet tortor massa, imperdiet rutrum sem. In nec sapien urna. Praesent convallis elit quis nisi luctus suscipit. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Words Into Type | Rule: Puts the cutoff at five lines. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
See the example under the general block quote rules. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dialogue | Rule: When used to set apart a conversation, the quotation marks are outside the ending punctuation for that conversation. Greater detail on formatting dialogue can be found in the post, “Dialogue“.
If dialogue runs for more than one paragraph, see the entry, Multiple Paragraphs of One Person Speaking. NOTE: This is different from a block quote. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
“Okay,” he said, nodding in agreement, “I’ll get right on that.” | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Measurement | Rule: Informal writing sometimes expresses feet and inches using a prime symbol. Periods and commas are placed outside the prime and double prime marks. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
5′ 10″, i.e., 5 feet 10 inches f′(x) and f″(x) The event at (x, y, z, t) in frame S has coordinates (x′, y′, z′, t′) in frame S′. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Rule: Nicknames should be placed in quotation marks in the middle of a person’s actual name. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
Georgetta “George” Mahon Captain “Sailor” Makepeace Colonel “Sahib” Crawford |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Punctuating In and Around Quotation Marks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rule: Current fashion insists that periods and commas always go inside quotation marks. All other punctuation marks go outside the quotation marks.
Old Fashioned: British, Canadian, and current or former British territories (BCBT) place periods and other punctuation outside quotation marks. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sentence is the Quote | Rule: Periods go inside the quotation mark.
BCBT: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
Legend:
“If you can tell stories, create characters, devise incidents, and have sincerity and passion, it doesn’t matter a damn how you write.” –Somerset Maugham “The best investments today,” according to Smith, “are commodities and emerging-market stocks.” Treated as dialogue. BCBT: “If you can tell stories, create characters, devise incidents, and have sincerity and passion, it doesn’t matter a damn how you write”. –Somerset Maugham My brother threatened that if I ate any more of his Cheetos, he’d, “Stuff a whole apple down my throat”. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Quote Within a Sentence | Depending upon the situation, there are different rules: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No Comma, No Period |
Rule: This is usually a run-in quote, i.e., the quote is part of the sentence with no commas or periods. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
Oh, meowww, Winston Churchill’s “I may be drunk, miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly” is wicked, lol. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| End of Quote is at End of Sentence | Rule: When the quoted material is NOT the entire sentence . . .
Current Fashion: Comma is inside ending quotation mark. Old Fashioned & BCBT: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
Current Fashion: As an editor, I have found that Somerset Maugham’s comment is quite true: “If you can tell stories, create characters, devise incidents, and have sincerity and passion, it doesn’t matter a damn how you write.” Elbert Hubbard’s comment, “Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive,” cracks me up. The sign said, “Walk.” Then it said, “Don’t Walk,” then, “Walk,” all within thirty seconds. He yelled, “Hurry up.” See the post on Dialogue. Old people at weddings always poke me and say “you’re next.” So I started doing the same thing to them at funerals. Credit to: Funny History is stained with blood spilled in the name of “civilization.” My brother threatened that if I ate any more of his Cheetos, he’d “stuff a whole apple down my throat.” Old Fashioned & BCBT: Elbert Hubbard’s comment, “Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive”, cracks me up. The sign said, “Walk”. Then it said, “Don’t Walk”, then “Walk”, all within thirty seconds. Old people at weddings always poke me and say “you’re next”. So I started doing the same thing to them at funerals. Credit to: Funny History is stained with blood spilled in the name of “civilization”. My brother threatened that if I ate any more of his Cheetos, he’d “stuff a whole apple down my throat”. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parenthetical Reference Ends Sentence | Rule: If a parenthetical reference follows the sentence, then the period goes outside the quotation mark. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
Mullen, criticizing the apparent inaction, writes, “Donahue’s policy was to do nothing” (24).
Jan Harold Brunvand, in an essay on urban legends, states: “some individuals [who retell urban legends] make a point of learning every rumor or tale” (78). |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Comma OR Period Within Sentence |
Rule: Current Fashion: Commas and periods go inside the quotation marks. Old Fashioned & BCBT:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
Current Fashion: Markowitz believes “the inner whojigger is slotted into the whatsit,” and then the whatacallit will seat itself. Old Fashioned & BCBT: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Question Marks, Exclamation Points |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Part of the Quote | Rule: Question marks and exclamation points that are part of the quote go inside the quotes. If it occurs at the end of the sentence, it suffices to end the entire sentence. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
He said, “You asked, ‘Do you love me?‘“
He exclaimed, “I heard you asking, ‘Do you love me?‘!“ Malcolm X had the courage to ask the younger generation of American blacks, “What did we do, who preceded you?” |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At Sentence End | Rule: If the question mark applies to the entire sentence, it goes outside the closing quotation mark. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
Can you believe that she said, in front of everyone at the wedding, that she still has “a serious and undeniable crush on my new hubby’s brother”?
Does Dr. Lim always say to her students, “You must work harder”? Who said, “Fame means when your computer modem is broken, the repair guy comes out to your house a little faster”? |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Quote Within a Quote | Rule: Use single quotes when quoting anything within double quotes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
Mary asked, “Will we be performing ‘Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies‘ this afternoon?“
“Please stop saying, ‘I love you‘,“ he begged. “I just heard ‘Amazing Grace‘,“ she said. “George, would you play that 50 cent song again? You know, ‘Call Me’,” Madge asked. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Quote Within a Quote Within a Quote | Rule: If a quote is used inside a quote that is already inside a quote, alternate between double quotation marks and single quotes, i.e., the original quote uses double quotes, the inner quote uses single quotes, the quote that is inside that inner quote reverts back to the double quotes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
The author’s final argument is less convincing: “When Brown writes of ‘interpreting the matter through a “structuralist” lens,’ he opens himself to the same criticism he made earlier in his own paper.”
Credit to: Quotation Marks. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Semicolon | Rule: Semicolons ALWAYS go outside of quotation marks. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
Williams described the experiment as “a definitive step forward”; other scientists disagreed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Introducing a Quote | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colon Introduces a Quote | Rule: Colons ALWAYS go outside of quotation marks and are used:
* APA requires capitalizing a second independent clause that follows the colon. ** Chicago requires a single independent clause (following the colon) be lowercase. If two independent clauses, then capitalize both. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
In Food Rules, Michael Pollan summarizes his extensive writing about food with seven words of advice: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”
As part of a series of independent clauses, the period goes inside the quotation marks. See the post on “Colon“. Benedetto emphasizes three elements of what she calls her “Olympic journey”: family support, personal commitment, and great coaching. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Comma Introduces a Quote | Rule: Commas are frequently used to introduce quoted material. Also see the post on Dialogue. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
Bluntly, he asked, “Do you have protection?”
Steve Martin said, “A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.” |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Period Introduces a Quote | Rule: May introduce a block quotation when the introductory text is an independent clause. A colon is sometimes a better choice. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
I like Kelly’s sense of humor as well, yep, intergalactic historians works for me.
“‘We find lost works of art and liberate them from their prisons.’ ‘. . . fanciest “I steal things” I’ve ever heard.'” I like Kelly’s sense of humor as well, yep, intergalactic historians works for me: “‘We find lost works of art and liberate them from their prisons.’ ‘. . . fanciest “I steal things” I’ve ever heard.'” |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No Punctuation to Introduce a Quote | Rule: When the quoted material is part of the sentence, do not use any punctuation (except the quotation marks) before the quote.
This type of introduction is common in run-in quotations and appropriate for introducing block quotations that also flow directly. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
In her closing statement, the prosecutor spoke forcefully of the defendant’s “callous disregard for human life.”
Though marshaling little evidence, the authors claim that “over half of British prisoners come from single-parent households.” We tried to persuade him, but he said “No way.” The phrase “be that as it may” appears far too often in this manuscript. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Never Use Quotation Marks To: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Add Words to a Quote | Rule: Use brackets to add your own words (explanatory text, etc.) to a quote or text. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
Jan Harold Brunvand, in an essay on urban legends, states: “some individuals [who retell urban legends] make a point of learning every rumor or tale” (78). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anchors for a Scale | Rule: Use italics for identifying anchors of a scale. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
Determine the best method — frequency, duration, or intensity — for measuring the targeted behaviors for the BRS.
When setting anchor points for challenging behavior, one must determine appropriate behavior, duration, and frequency. Response options ranged from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cite Linguistic Example | Rule: Use italics to cite a letter, word, phrase, or sentence as a linguistic example. This is a use-mention distinction: the difference between using a word (or phrase) and mentioning it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
He explained the difference between loose and lose.
Well, it’s either a yes or a no, darlin’. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Decorative Initial Caps | Rule: Drop caps or raised initials are sometimes used to start a new chapter or section. If it is part of a dialogue, either:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Words | Rule: Do not use quotation marks for foreign words; use italics for foreign words that are not in an English language dictionary. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
“Ciao, baby,” he said.
It’s best if we eat el helado within a few days. Marie is surprised you are tellement en avant, monsieur. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hedging, Sarcasm |
Rule: Use italics when using sarcasm (used for effect to further a position or bolster an argument). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Return to top or post contents |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Terms: Technical, Key |
Rule: Use italics for technical or key terms and not quotation marks. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
Satisfy your curiosity about other Properly Punctuated posts on its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, Word Confusions, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.
Resources for Quotation Marks
Some of these links may be affiliate links, and I will earn a small percentage, if you should buy it. It does not affect the price you pay.
American Psychological Association. Publication Manual. Ed 7. American Psychological Association: 2019. <https://amzn.to/3TOLJXw>.
Einsohn, Amy. The Copyeditor’s Handbook. University of California Press, 2006. Print.
“Funny Quotes, Sayings and One-Liners.” Quick, Funny Jokes! n.d. Web. 19 Jan 2016. <http://www.quickfunnyjokes.com/funnythoughts.html>.
“Guillemet.” Wikipedia. 30 Mar 2023. Web. 1 Apr 2023. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillemet>.
“MLA Formatting and Style Guide.” Purdue Online Writing Lab. Purdue University. n.d. Web. n.d. <https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html>.
“Quotation Marks.” Grammar Book. n.d. Web. 20 Jan 2016. <http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/quotes.asp>.
“Quotation Marks.” The Punctuation Guide. n.d. Web. 20 Jan 2016. <http://www.thepunctuationguide.com/quotation-marks.html#otherusesofquotationmarks>.
Pinterest Photo Credits
The German Tourist is on a post “The German Tourist > Getting Among It” at Lucy vs The Globe.com, <http://www.lucyvstheglobe.com/>. American Boy Flag is courtesy of Homemade Preschool. The faded wrecking ball is from Russ Litten’s “The Wrecking Ball Swings” at Wrecking Ball Press.com. I cannot find my original source for the wine-toting bicyclist. Let me know, if you know whom I should credit.
