quotation marks in english essay

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How to Use Quotation Marks

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Using Quotation Marks

The primary function of quotation marks is to set off and represent exact language (either spoken or written) that has come from somebody else. The quotation mark is also used to designate speech acts in fiction and sometimes poetry. Since you will most often use them when working with outside sources, successful use of quotation marks is a practical defense against accidental plagiarism and an excellent practice in academic honesty. The following rules of quotation mark use are the standard in the United States, although it may be of interest that usage rules for this punctuation do vary in other countries.

The following covers the basic use of quotation marks. For details and exceptions consult the separate sections of this guide.

Direct Quotations

Direct quotations involve incorporating another person's exact words into your own writing.

• Quotation marks always come in pairs. Do not open a quotation and fail to close it at the end of the quoted material.

Mr. Johnson, who was working in his field that morning, said, "The alien spaceship appeared right before my own two eyes."

Although Mr. Johnson has seen odd happenings on the farm, he stated that the spaceship "certainly takes the cake" when it comes to unexplainable activity.

"I didn't see an actual alien being," Mr. Johnson said, "but I sure wish I had."

When quoting text with a spelling or grammar error, you should transcribe the error exactly in your own text. However, also insert the term sic in italics directly after the mistake, and enclose it in brackets. Sic is from the Latin, and translates to "thus," "so," or "just as that." The word tells the reader that your quote is an exact reproduction of what you found, and the error is not your own.

Mr. Johnson says of the experience, "It's made me reconsider the existence of extraterestials [ sic ]."

• Quotations are most effective if you use them sparingly and keep them relatively short. Too many quotations in a research paper will get you accused of not producing original thought or material (they may also bore a reader who wants to know primarily what YOU have to say on the subject).

Indirect Quotations

Indirect quotations are not exact wordings but rather rephrasings or summaries of another person's words. In this case, it is not necessary to use quotation marks. However, indirect quotations still require proper citations, and you will be committing plagiarism if you fail to do so.

Many writers struggle with when to use direct quotations versus indirect quotations. Use the following tips to guide you in your choice.

Use direct quotations when the source material uses language that is particularly striking or notable. Do not rob such language of its power by altering it.

The above should never stand in for:

Use an indirect quotation (or paraphrase) when you merely need to summarize key incidents or details of the text.

Use direct quotations when the author you are quoting has coined a term unique to her or his research and relevant within your own paper.

When to use direct quotes versus indirect quotes is ultimately a choice you'll learn a feeling for with experience. However, always try to have a sense for why you've chosen your quote. In other words, never put quotes in your paper simply because your teacher says, "You must use quotes."

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Quotation marks: rules and usage in sentences

Jessica Malnik

I’d wager you’ve probably seen at least a handful of quotation marks so far today. They’re everywhere. These upside-down commas can be tricky if you don’t understand the rules.

For instance, when should you use a single quote or a double quote? Where does the punctuation go?

In this post, we’ll cover the differences in single and double quotation marks, common quotation mark rules (including the Golden Rule), and when to use quotation marks.

What’s the difference between single and double quotation marks?

Single and double quotes have different uses but are commonly mixed up by writers. It’s hard to tell the purpose of the quotation marks if they’re used incorrectly.

In general, double quotes should be used to indicate direct speech in your writing. Double quotes look like this and are highlighted in the example below:

Single quotes aren’t used in the same way as double quotes, but they’re often used in the same sentence as them. Single quotes are used to indicate a quote within a quote. Single quotations can also be used to show a quote within a headline or a title placed within a quote.

Here’s an example of what that would look like with the single quotation marks highlighted:

It’s important to note that quotation grammar rules vary between American English and British English, which can be a challenge for international students. For this post, we’ll focus on quotation rules that affect American English writing and literature. If you’re writing in British English, be sure to consult your style guide or other relevant writing references.

Before we dive into when you should use quotation marks, we first need to cover some ground rules.

What are common quotation mark rules?

When it comes to quotation mark usage, there is one Golden Rule you need to know:

Once a quote is open, it has to be closed.

Essentially, don’t start what you can’t finish. If you have an opening quotation mark, then you’ll need to close the word, sentence, or phrase with a closing quotation. This means that leaving a quote open like this is  incorrect :

Can you spot where the closing quotation needs to go? The closing quote should be placed directly after the comma beside the word  backpack . Think of quotes as existing in pairs. If you start a quote, it needs to be followed by its buddy.

Aside from the Golden Rule, there are a few additional quotation mark rules.

3 of the most common quotation mark rules you need to know

1. using quotes within quotes.

This was already mentioned above, but it’s an important rule to remember. When you’re quoting something inside of an existing quote, you should use single quotes within the quote.

Here’s an example of what a single quotation mark looks like for a quote within a quote:

As you can see in the example above, the closing quotations almost look like three marks. That’s what it looks like when you have a single quote next to a double quote. It might seem odd, but it’s grammatically correct.

Here’s another example. In this case, the quote within the quote is smack-dab in the middle instead of butting up next to the closing double quote:

2. Capitalization and quoting

Text within quotation marks is sometimes capitalized and other times not. It strictly depends on the quote itself. The first letter of the text should be capitalized if you’re quoting a complete sentence. Here’s what that looks like as an example:

This would be true even if the quoted phrase fell in the middle of a sentence. You would still need to start it with a capital letter in that instance.

But a quote doesn’t always have to start with a capital letter. If you’re simply quoting a piece of the sentence or a phrase, then you can start the quote with a lowercase letter. Here’s an example of that:

3. Using quotes with other punctuation

It can be confusing for writers trying to figure out whether punctuation marks go inside or outside of quotes. For this rule, there are a few tips to keep in mind to help you place punctuation marks in the right spot.

For instance, punctuation marks that introduce the quote shouldn’t be placed within the quotation mark. But sentence-ending punctuation marks follow different guidelines. Sentence-ending periods and commas go within the quotation marks while semicolons, dashes, and colons are placed on the outside of the quote.

Here are two examples to show the difference in sentence-ending punctuation placement:

Exclamation and question marks are another story. They can go either inside or outside of the quote, depending on the context. If the punctuation mark applies to the quoted word or phrase, then they should be placed within the quotes. If they apply to the entire sentence instead, then they go outside of the quotation marks.

Here’s an example to show you the difference:

When to use quotation marks

Here are some examples of when quotation marks should be used and how they can be applied to your writing.

1. Quotes within quotes

As stated above, quotes within quotes are commonly used. These require a single quotation mark inside of double quotation marks.

He said, “I love the theater. I went to see ‘Sample Performance’ last week.”

In this example above, the single quotes are framing the title of a show.

2. Quotes within quotes

Remember that a single quote should still be used when it’s followed directly by a double quote, such as in this example:

She said, “My favorite album is ‘Sample Band Debut.’”

3. Words as words

You can also use quotation marks to refer to a word. Here’s an example:

Effective “copywriting” can persuade people to take a desired action.

The quotation marks in this example show that you’re talking about the word itself, and it’s not a direct quote from someone.

4. Scare quotes

Scare or shudder quotes are used to imply a term is being used in a nontraditional way or the writer is trying to distance themselves or the subject from the word. For example:

She thinks she’s a “talented” artist.

The use of quotation marks here shows that the writer doesn’t necessarily think the person is talented. Keep in mind that scare quotes can easily be overused, and you should try to use them sparingly in your writing.

5. Titles of short works

Titles of short works like poems, articles, blog posts, and chapters should use quotation marks. However, larger pieces of work such as novels and magazines would be italicized, according to many style guides, including Chicago. Here’s an example of a short body of work in quotation marks:

‘How to Write’ was an interesting article.

6. Direct quotes

Direct quotes are possibly the easiest and most straightforward use of quotes. When you’re quoting someone’s direct speech, add quotation marks. Here’s an example:

“I only have two classes left today,” she said.

Quotation marks follow many rules, but they aren’t too complicated. Just keep practicing to get the hang of it. And of course, you can always bookmark this post to use as a reference.

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Quotation basics: grammar, punctuation, and style, some general quotation guidelines.

In an effort to make our handouts more accessible, we have begun converting our PDF handouts to web pages. Download this page as a PDF: Quotation Grammar, Punctuation, and Style Return to Writing Studio Handouts

When writing a formal essay, you will often need to use quotes from a text or texts as evidence to prove your point or to make an argument. Below are grammar and punctuation guidelines to help you integrate those quotes into your essay successfully.

We recommend consulting a style manual or your instructor for specific queries.

Periods and Commas

• You do not need to use any punctuation before a quotation if it forms part of your own sentence.

Example: Dennis cries that he is “being repressed!”

• Use a comma when introducing a quote with a phrase such as ‘he said.’

Example: The old man protests, “I don’t want to go on the cart.”

• Place parenthetical citations outside the end quotation mark, but before the punctuation.

Example: King Arthur declares, “Let’s not go to Camelot. It is a silly place” (13).

Colons and Ellipses

• Use a colon when introducing a quotation with a full independent clause (one that can stand on its own).

Example: Emily feels frustrated by his response: “Is there someone else that we can talk to?”

• Use an ellipsis (three periods, sometimes with spaces between: ‘…’ ) to indicate an omission in a quotation (Exception: it is not necessary to use an ellipsis when omitting words at the beginning of a quote unless you are using a block quote format).

Example: “The kind of intelligence a genius has … leaps with ellipses.”

• When you want to omit one or more full sentences, use a period and a space before the three ellipsis dots.

Example: “Hatred paralyzes life. … Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.”

Slashes and Brackets

• When you are quoting poetry, use a slash ( / ) to mark a line break.

Example: “Let me not to the marriage of true minds / Admit impediments” (1-2).

• Use square brackets to add a word, change a pronoun, or change a verb tense in the quote.

Original quote: “It’s my duty as a knight to sample all the peril I can.”

In your essay: Sir Galahad thinks “it’s [his] duty as a knight to sample all the peril [he] can.”

Question Marks and Exclamation Points

• With a question mark or exclamation point, there is no need to use a comma or a period.

Example: The interested observer wonders, “Are you suggesting that coconuts migrate?”

• If the mark is part of your sentence and not part of the quote, it goes outside the last quotation mark.

Example: I don’t think we can ever understand the “ineluctable modality of the visual”!

Block Quotes

• MLA style calls for use of a block quote (indent 10 spaces, or 2 tabs) when citing five or more lines of typed prose or four or more lines of verse. APA style calls for block quotes when citing forty words or more.

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? / Thou art more lovely and more temperate. / Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, / And summer’s lease hath all too short a date. (1-4)

Quote Within a Quote

• When using a quote within a quote, single quotation marks are used for the inner quote.

Example: Josh laments, “Every time I try to talk to someone it’s ‘sorry this’ and ‘forgive me that.’”

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• Writing Tips

Punctuation Tips: Using Quotation Marks

• 3-minute read
• 17th November 2016

Quotation marks play a vital role in many types of writing. This is especially true of academic work , where you’ll often need to quote a source to provide evidence for your arguments.

However, the rules for how quotation marks should be used in formal writing can be complicated. As such, we’ve prepared this quick guide to using these punctuation marks .

Direct Quotation and Dialogue

When quoting a source in a paper, the quoted text should be enclosed within double quotation marks (“ ”):

According to Sartre (1969, p.30), “Every conscious existence exists as consciousness of existing.”

Note that a citation is given here. In an academic context, this is crucial when quoting a source. In other forms of writing, such as fiction, quotation marks can indicate speech:

“What a lovely day,” muttered Sally, her voice dripping sarcasm.

While double quotation marks are the norm in American English, keep in mind that single quotation marks (‘ ’) are more common in British English. If you’re not sure which kind to use, check your school/publisher’s style guide .

Quotations within Quotations

The only time single quotation marks (also known as inverted commas ) are conventionally used in American English is when quoting text that already contains quotation marks:

Sartre (1969, p.504) states that “assertions such as ‘I am ugly,’ ‘I am stupid,’ etc.” are anticipatory by nature.

Here, “I am ugly” and “I am stupid” are placed within single quotation marks because they were within quotation marks in the original source. This helps ensure clarity.

Capitalization and Punctuation

You might have noticed that the quotes above use different styles of capitalization and punctuation. This depends on what you’re quoting and how it’s framed by the sentence.

The rule here is generally to capitalize the first word when quoting a complete sentence, but not when quoting part of a larger sentence:

Full sentence: He told me, “You’re not listening.” Then he left.

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Partial quotation: He said I was “not listening,” and then he left.

The other difference you can see in these examples regards using a comma to introduce a quotation. If a quotation follows naturally from the rest of the sentence, no comma is required:

No comma: He said that “The sky is blue.”

However, if there would usually be a pause in the sentence, a comma might be required. This is common when a quotation follows a phrase like “he said” or “she said”:

Comma required: He said, “The sky is blue.”

More generally, American English places commas and periods inside quotation marks even if they weren’t part of the original quotation. For other punctuation marks, such as question marks, it depends on whether they were part of the original text:

Part of quoted text: She asked, “What color is the sky?”

Not part of quoted text: Did you just say that “the sky is blue”?

Scare Quotes

Finally, sometimes quotation marks are used to indicate use of a non-standard term or to suggest skepticism or irony when we don’t agree with how a term has been used:

He’s not a gangster; if you value your health, he’s a “businessman.”

However, it’s best to use scare quotes sparingly in academic writing, as they’re often misused .

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Quotation marks: a comprehensive guide.

• By Matthew Jones

Even native English speakers struggle with quotation marks sometimes. There are several rules that dictate how and when to use them correctly.

Click below to listen to a recording of this passage.

That said, it’s pretty simple when you’re just quoting someone; you put a double quotation mark at the beginning of the quote and a double quotation mark at the end. Pretty easy, right?

But what do you do when you’ve got multiple quotes in one sentence? Do punctuation marks go inside or outside of quotation marks? Finally, can you use quotation marks even when you’re not quoting someone?

We will answer all of these questions and more, but first, let’s look at the basic function of quotation marks:

(Prefer to watch this lesson on video? Here’s our full length tutorial on “Quotation Marks”):

‘Quotation Marks in English:

How to Use Quotation Marks

The primary function of the quotation mark is to denote written text that was originally said or written by someone else. You put a double quotation mark (“) at the beginning of a quote and one at the end.

For example, if you want to use a famous quote, it would look something like this:

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched — they must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller

However, the person who made the quote doesn’t have to be famous.

If you write anything that someone said, you should put it in quotations. Otherwise, you’re stealing someone’s words and pretending that they’re your own!

Writing Dialogue in Fiction

Writers frequently use quotation marks in fiction.

This often means that they are quoting people who don’t even exist! For example, if you’re writing a short story, it might include a conversation like this:

“Are you ready for the exam?” she asked.

“Not really,” he answered. “I’m actually pretty worried.”

This is what’s known as direct dialogue .

The writer is reporting an exact quote that someone has spoken or written. The opposite of direct dialogue is indirect dialogue, in which the writer gives a report of something that was said. If it is not an exact quote, therefore it does not require quotation marks.

It’s also important to remember that dialogue in a story is separated by the speaker. In other words, every time a new person begins speaking, you must start a new paragraph. If you don’t, the reader might get confused about which character is speaking!

Citing Sources in Essays and Reports

If you need to write an essay for school or a report for your job, you might need to use information from sources other than yourself. This means that you will probably write quotes from other people. You should always cite your sources so that the reader knows exactly who made the original quote.

Here’s an example:

The stock market is in a deep decline. Many experts fear that a recession is imminent. According to financial analyst Stephen Roach, the United States might be headed for a “double-dip recession” that could be “catastrophic.”

In the example above, the writer identifies the speaker, Stephen Roach, and uses his exact words within the quotation marks ( double-dip recession and catastrophic ). You’ll also notice that you can use multiple quotes within the same sentence. All you have to do is designate each quote with its own set of quotation marks.

Quotation Marks and Punctuation

There are several important grammar rules you’ll need to know when using quotations. Depending on how you introduce a quote, you’ll need to follow different punctuation rules.

Here are the most important quotation mark rules you’ll need to remember:

Punctuation marks always go inside the quotation marks.

CORRECT: “Go away!” he shouted.

INCORRECT: “Go away”! he shouted.

CORRECT: “I really don’t feel well today,” she said.

INCORRECT: “I really don’t feel well today”, she said.

CORRECT: He said, “Never say never.”

INCORRECT: He said, “Never say never”.

You’ll notice that some of these examples use quotes that begin with a capital letter, while others do not. The rule is that if the quote is an independent clause, it must always begin with a capital letter, regardless of where it falls in the sentence. If the quote is a dependent clause, it does not need to begin with a capital letter.

If you introduce the source or speaker first, you must put a comma before the first quotation mark.

Example 1: She asked, “What are you doing?”

Example 2: According to the official report, “There was no evidence of foul play.”

If you introduce the source or speaker after the quote, you must put a comma or punctuation mark before the last quotation mark.

Example 1: “I’ve never liked to play sports,” he said.

Example 2: “I can’t wait to go to the party!” she exclaimed.

Example 3: “Where are you going?” he asked.

Usually, the period that would be at the end of a quote is replaced by a comma , like in Example 1.

However, if the quote requires a specific kind of punctuation other than a period (exclamation point or question mark), you should use the actual punctuation. No matter what kind of punctuation mark comes before the second quotation mark, you should not capitalize the first letter after the quotation mark, as it is all considered part of the same sentence.

If you use a quote within a quote, you must use double quotation marks for the larger quote and single quotation marks for the smaller quote.

Example 1: “Sarah is working late, so she says she will need ‘a little extra time’” he said.

Example 2: The driver said, “I was in my own lane until he shouted ‘get out of my way! ’ and zoomed past me.”

You’ll notice that you have to use the single quotations to denote the smaller quote, even if one of them is immediately followed or preceded by double quotation marks.

Quotation Marks for Non-Quotes

Finally, we’ll look at using quotation marks in English writing for non-quotes. This is typically reserved for informal writing, so there are no hard-and-fast rules regarding usage. Quotation marks that do not quote anything usually change the tone of a word, phrase, or sentence. You can generally use quotation marks for non-quotes in the following situations:

To demonstrate a sarcastic tone

Example: I “love” doing math homework.

To question the legitimacy of something

Example: He thinks that he’s an “intellectual,” but he’s not very bright.

To indicate an informal name or expression

Example: Australia is known as “The Land Down Under.”

To name part of a larger work, like a chapter or episode

Example: My favorite episode of Friends is “The One Where Everybody Finds Out.”

Again, you should usually reserve these types of quotation marks for informal writing (with the exception of chapters and episodes). Since quotation marks are meant for quotes, that’s how you should use them in formal writing (like essays or reports).

However, with informal writing, you have a lot more freedom to use them to demonstrate a specific tone or implication.

Some people even use quotation marks for non-quotes when speaking.

They do this by extending and bending their pointer and middle fingers to form the shape of double quotation marks. This usually indicates sarcasm or questions the legitimacy of something said. However, you don’t have to use “finger quotes” when speaking. They’re completely optional!

Though there are different rules to learn, quotation marks are not too complicated in English. As long as you put one at the beginning of a quote and one at the end, you’re probably good to go! In any case, if you want to write with proper English grammar, you’ll need to memorize the rules above.

We hope you found this overview on how to use quotation marks useful! Interested in learning more about our english tutoring offer for starters ?

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A Guide to Using Quotations in Essays

Quotations Add Credibility to a Persuasive Essay

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If you want to make an impact on your reader, you can draw on the potency of quotations. The  effective use of quotations  augments the power of your arguments and makes your essays more interesting.

But there is a need for caution! Are you convinced that the quotation you have chosen is helping your essay and not hurting it? Here are some factors to consider to ensure that you are doing the right thing.

What Is This Quotation Doing in This Essay?

Let us begin at the beginning. You have a chosen a quotation for your essay. But, why that specific quotation?

A good quotation should do one or more of the following:

• Make an opening impact on the reader
• Build credibility for your essay
• Make the essay more interesting
• Close the essay with a point to ponder upon

If the quotation does not meet a few of these objectives, then it is of little value. Merely stuffing a quotation into your essay can do more harm than good.

Your Essay Is Your Mouthpiece

Should the quotation speak for the essay or should the essay speak for the quotation? Quotations should add impact to the essay and not steal the show. If your quotation has more punch than your essay, then something is seriously wrong. Your essay should be able to stand on its own legs; the quotation should merely make this stand stronger.

How Many Quotations Should You Use in Your Essay?

Using too many quotations is like having several people shouting on your behalf. This will drown out your voice. Refrain from overcrowding your essay with words of wisdom from famous people. You own the essay, so make sure that you are heard.

Don't Make It Look Like You Plagiarized

There are some rules and standards when using quotations in an essay. The most important one is that you should not give the impression of being the author of the quotation. That would amount to plagiarism . Here are a set of rules to clearly distinguish your writing from the quotation:

• You may describe the quotation in your own words before using it. In this case, you should use a colon (:) to indicate the beginning of the quotation. Then begin the quotation with a quotation mark ("). After you have completed the quotation, close it with a quotation mark ("). Here is an example: Sir Winston Churchill made a witty remark on the attitude of a pessimist: "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
• The sentence in which the quotation is embedded might not explicitly describe the quotation, but merely introduce it. In such a case, do away with the colon. Simply use the quotation marks . Here is an example: Sir Winston Churchill once said, "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
• As far as possible, you should mention the author and the source of the quotation. For instance: In Shakespeare ’s play "As You Like It," Touchstone says to Audrey in the Forest of Arden, "The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool." (Act V, Scene I).
• Ensure that the source of your quotation is authentic. Also, verify the author of your quotation. You can do so by looking up the quotation on authoritative websites. For formal writing, do not rely on just one website.

Blend Quotations In

An essay can seem quite jarring if the quotation does not blend in. The quotation should naturally fit into your essay. No one is interested in reading quotation-stuffed essays.

Here are some good tips on blending in your quotations:

• You can begin your essay with a quotation that sets off the basic idea of the essay. This can have a lasting impact on your reader. In the introductory paragraph of your essay, you can comment on the quotation if you like. In any case, do ensure that the relevance of the quotation is communicated well.
• Your choice of phrases and adjectives can significantly boost the impact of the quotation in your essay. Do not use monotonous phrases like: "George Washington once said...." If your essay is written for the appropriate context, consider using emphatic expressions like: "George Washington rocked the nation by saying...."

Using Long Quotations

It is usually better to have short and crisp quotations in your essay. Generally, long quotations must be used sparingly as they tend to weigh down the reader. However, there are times when your essay has more impact with a longer quotation.

If you have decided to use a long quotation, consider paraphrasing , as it usually works better. But, there is a downside to paraphrasing too. Instead of paraphrasing, if you use a direct quotation , you will avoid misrepresentation. The decision to use a long quotation is not trivial. It is your judgment call.

If you are convinced that a particular long quotation is more effective, be sure to format and punctuate it correctly.   Long quotations should be set off as block quotations . The format of block quotations should follow the guidelines that you might have been provided. If there are no specific guidelines, you can follow the usual standard—if a quotation is more than three lines long, you set it off as a block quote. Blocking implies indenting it about half an inch on the left.

Usually, a brief introduction to a long quotation is warranted. In other cases, you might need to provide a complete analysis of the quotation. In this case, it is best to begin with the quotation and follow it with the analysis, rather than the other way around.

Using Cute Quotes or Poetry

Some students choose a cute quotation first and then try to plug it into their essay. As a consequence, such quotations usually drag the reader away from the essay.

Quoting a verse from a poem, however, can add a lot of charm to your essay. I have come across writing that acquires a romantic edge merely by including a poetic quotation. If you are quoting from poetry, keep in mind that a small extract of a poem, say about two lines long, requires the use of slash marks (/) to indicate line breaks. Here is an example:

Charles Lamb has aptly described a child as "A child's a plaything for an hour;/ Its pretty tricks we try / For that or for a longer space; / Then tire, and lay it by." (1-4)

If you use a single line extract of a poem, punctuate it like any other short quotation without the slashes. Quotation marks are required at the beginning and at the end of the extract. However, if your quotation is more than three lines of poetry, I would suggest that you treat it like you would have treated a long quotation from prose. In this case, you should use the block quote format.

Does Your Reader Understand the Quotation?

Perhaps the most important question you must ask yourself when using a quotation is: "Do readers understand the quotation and its relevance to my essay ?"

If the reader is re-reading a quotation, just to understand it, then you are in trouble. So when you choose a quotation for your essay, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is this too convoluted for my reader?
• Does this match the tastes of my audience ?
• Is the grammar and vocabulary in this quotation understandable?
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How to Master the Use of Quotation Marks

By: Author English Study Online

Posted on Last updated: October 17, 2023

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Do you struggle to remember when to use quotation marks? Are you unsure how they can be used correctly in written English? This article will outline the different types of uses for quotations and gives clear examples of how these are formed. This guide is ideal for beginners looking for an easy guide on understanding quotation marks as well as experienced writers who want a quick refresher on the correct usage.

Table of Contents

What are Quotation Marks?

Quotation marks, often shortened as “quotes” or “inverted commas”, are used to attribute a quote or citation to an individual. Quotations marks indicate that the exact words taken from a source have been used, and they serve an important purpose in academic writing.

Different Types of Quotation Marks

Single straight quotation marks.

The single straight mark (‘) is the most commonly used type of quote mark, especially for shorter quotations. It’s used to emphasize words or phrases within a larger sentence, as well as for denoting titles of short stories or articles.

For longer quotations or quotes from foreign sources, particularly when quoting someone speaking in another language, double straight (“”) marks are often preferred. Double straight marks make it easier to tell when one person’s sentence ends and another begins.

Single Curved or Angle Quotation Marks

The single curved (`) or angle ( ) quotation mark is often used in place of single straight marks when the size of the font prohibits using single straight marks effectively. Single curved marks may also be required for certain subjects of study such as philosophy, medieval history, theology and anthropology, where long quotations would be difficult to format correctly without the use of this type of quote mark.

Double Straight Quotation Marks

The double curved (“) mark statement is sometimes used at the start and end of longer quotations — usually more than three lines — which appear within another sentence but have their own internal punctuation that needs marking off. This provides both legibility and body clarity while not interfering with syntax outside of the quote itself. The formulaic product “Brand Name” would also typically be surrounded by double curved quotation marks instead of apostrophes (‘). Finally, they should never be confused with dashes (-), which serve an entirely different purpose in grammar and syntax altogether!

When to Use Quotation Marks

Quote What Other People Say

Using quotations is one of the most common uses for quotation marks. When you need to quote something exactly as it was said by someone else, you’ll want to put that information inside quotation marks. Generally, if both the speaker and phrase can be clearly identified, using quotation marks isn’t necessary—but when it’s not clear who is saying what, you should use quotes for both.

Highlight Special Terms or Phrases

When a term or phrase needs special emphasis, such as slang words or special industry jargon, quotation marks can help make sure readers understand the context of the phrase correctly. These phrases may also need to be set apart from the rest of a sentence because they introduce additional meaning corresponding closely to their definition; in that case, they need to be set off by single or double quotes before and after them.

Supply Titles of Books, TV Shows & Movies

Quotation marks are also essential when referencing titles on works such as books and movie titles. The only exception here is professional journal titles (which don’t need quotation marks), since no other resource typically has the same title name. For example: “The Lord of The Rings” is my favorite movie series.

Indicate Dictionaries Definitions

If you’re citing the definition of an unfamiliar term from a dictionary in your writing – even if it’s not critical to understanding your point – place it inside double quotes so readers know exactly which definition is being referenced: According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “misconstrue” means “to interpret incorrectly,”

Enclose Direct Speech Within Openings & Closings Stories and Essays

In stories and essays where you’re putting direct speech within dialogue tags (such as he said, she replied), it’s often helpful for readers to know exactly what words came out of your characters’ mouths—using opening and closing quotations makes this explicitly clear!

For example: He walked up behind her and said “Have I told you how much I love you?” You could stop reading right there and know exactly what he just said without any confusion at all!

How to Use Punctuation Outside the Quotation Marks

It may seem like a minor issue, but using punctuation correctly outside of quotation marks is essential for making sure your writing is clear and grammatically correct. Here are some tips and best practices for using punctuation outside of quotation marks:

1. Use colons, semicolons, and parentheses with no spaces between them.

For example: “The store has everything we need: groceries, supplies (including toilet paper!), and other miscellaneous items.”

2. Put a comma before a closing parenthesis when you’re creating a list or joining two sentences together within parentheses.

For instance: “I need to buy food (apples, oranges, bananas), laundry detergent, toilet paper” or “We love traveling to new places (especially in Europe), but we always come home—we just can’t stay away too long!”

3. Make sure that any question mark or exclamation point belongs to the sentence before the quote rather than the one inside the quote—even if the quoted sentence ends with those symbols.

For instance: “What did he say?” she asked or The stranger said, “Go away!”

4. If you end a sentence with quotation marks followed by a period at the end of the quoted material itself — as in direct quotes— include no other punctuation after the period outside of the quotation mark.

For instance: He said, “You must be careful when handling sharp objects.”

5. When punctuating long quotes that span multiple paragraphs or sections, make sure that only the last paragraph or section contains both an end quotation mark and any additional terminal punctuation such as periods or exclamation points; all other internal quotations should contain only an initial quotation mark as they are not true ending phrases just yet.

Here is an example:

• She wrote in her diary: “I’m so excited to finally have made this decision! I’ve been wanting to do this for years now and feel so relieved that I finally have taken this big step forward into my own life’s journey…This is going to be awesome!”

Special Cases for Using Quotation Marks

Titles of Works

Quotation marks are used to enclose the titles of shorter works such as articles, short stories, poems, songs, and TV episodes. Italicization can also be used instead of quotation marks for some types of works.

• “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe is a famous poem.
• The TV show “Friends” has a large following.

Scare Quotes

Quotation marks can be used to indicate that a word or phrase is being used in an ironic or non-literal sense, also known as “scare quotes”. This usage is common in academic writing to indicate skepticism or disagreement with the term being used.

• The “experts” at the conference had conflicting opinions on the topic.

Unfamiliar Words or Phrases

Quotation marks can also be used to indicate an unfamiliar or foreign word or phrase. This helps the reader to understand that the word is being used in a specific context or to show that it is not an English word.

• The Italian word “ciao” means both hello and goodbye.

Direct Dialogue in Narrative

Quotation marks are used to indicate direct dialogue spoken by characters in a story or novel. This helps to distinguish the dialogue from the rest of the narrative.

• “I can’t believe you did that,” said Jane.

Quotation Marks: FAQs

When Should I Use Quotation Marks?

Quotation Marks should be used to indicate that something is being directly quoted from a source. For example, if you were citing a book in an essay, you could write: “the author wrote ‘connecting with others is important for our overall wellbeing’”. Quotation marks can also be used around the titles of short works such as poems, songs, or articles.

What Is the Difference Between Single and Double Quotation Marks?

The type of quotation mark used depends on where in the world it is being written. In American English single quotation marks (‘ ‘) are used while double quotation marks (” “) are preferred in British English. However, this isn’t always consistent – so it’s best to check any style guide required by your institution before submitting your work.

How Do You Quote Within a Quote?

To quote within a quote simply replace the innermost set of single or double quotes with apostrophes (‘); for example: he said “My teacher told me ‘You can do this!'”. The same rule applies if you’re quoting within another quote within a quote – just keep adding more apostrophes until you reach your desired level of embedded quotes!

Related Links

• Punctuation: Definition and Rules of Different Types | Helpful Examples
• Question Mark | Interesting Facts about Question Marks in English
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• How to Quote | Citing Quotes in APA, MLA & Chicago

How to Quote | Citing Quotes in APA, MLA & Chicago

Published on April 15, 2022 by Shona McCombes and Jack Caulfield. Revised on May 31, 2023.

Quoting means copying a passage of someone else’s words and crediting the source. To quote a source, you must ensure:

• The quoted text is enclosed in quotation marks or formatted as a block quote
• The original author is correctly cited
• The text is identical to the original

The exact format of a quote depends on its length and on which citation style you are using. Quoting and citing correctly is essential to avoid plagiarism which is easy to detect with a good plagiarism checker .

Table of contents

How to cite a quote in apa, mla and chicago, introducing quotes, quotes within quotes, shortening or altering a quote, block quotes, when should i use quotes, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about quoting sources.

Every time you quote, you must cite the source correctly . This looks slightly different depending on the citation style you’re using. Three of the most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

Citing a quote in APA Style

To cite a direct quote in APA , you must include the author’s last name, the year, and a page number, all separated by commas . If the quote appears on a single page, use “p.”; if it spans a page range, use “pp.”

An APA in-text citation can be parenthetical or narrative. In a parenthetical citation , you place all the information in parentheses after the quote. In a narrative citation , you name the author in your sentence (followed by the year), and place the page number after the quote.

Punctuation marks such as periods and commas are placed after the citation, not within the quotation marks .

• Evolution is a gradual process that “can act only by very short and slow steps” (Darwin, 1859, p. 510) .
• Darwin (1859) explains that evolution “can act only by very short and slow steps” (p. 510) .

Complete guide to APA

Citing a quote in mla style.

An MLA in-text citation includes only the author’s last name and a page number. As in APA, it can be parenthetical or narrative, and a period (or other punctuation mark) appears after the citation.

• Evolution is a gradual process that “can act only by very short and slow steps” (Darwin 510) .
• Darwin explains that evolution “can act only by very short and slow steps” (510) .

Complete guide to MLA

Citing a quote in chicago style.

Chicago style uses Chicago footnotes to cite sources. A note, indicated by a superscript number placed directly after the quote, specifies the author, title, and page number—or sometimes fuller information .

Unlike with parenthetical citations, in this style, the period or other punctuation mark should appear within the quotation marks, followed by the footnote number.

Complete guide to Chicago style

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Make sure you integrate quotes properly into your text by introducing them in your own words, showing the reader why you’re including the quote and providing any context necessary to understand it.  Don’t  present quotations as stand-alone sentences.

There are three main strategies you can use to introduce quotes in a grammatically correct way:

• Add an introductory sentence
• Use an introductory signal phrase
• Integrate the quote into your own sentence

The following examples use APA Style citations, but these strategies can be used in all styles.

Introductory sentence

Introduce the quote with a full sentence ending in a colon . Don’t use a colon if the text before the quote isn’t a full sentence.

If you name the author in your sentence, you may use present-tense verbs , such as “states,” “argues,” “explains,” “writes,” or “reports,” to describe the content of the quote.

• In Denmark, a recent poll shows that: “A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters” (Levring, 2018, p. 3).
• In Denmark, a recent poll shows that support for the EU has grown since the Brexit vote: “A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters” (Levring, 2018, p. 3).
• Levring (2018) reports that support for the EU has grown since the Brexit vote: “A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters” (p. 3).

Introductory signal phrase

You can also use a signal phrase that mentions the author or source, but doesn’t form a full sentence. In this case, you follow the phrase with a comma instead of a colon.

• According to a recent poll, “A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters” (Levring, 2018, p. 3).
• As Levring (2018) explains, “A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters” (p. 3).

Integrated into your own sentence

To quote a phrase that doesn’t form a full sentence, you can also integrate it as part of your sentence, without any extra punctuation .

• A recent poll suggests that EU membership “would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters” in a referendum (Levring, 2018, p. 3).
• Levring (2018) reports that EU membership “would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters” in a referendum (p. 3).

When you quote text that itself contains another quote, this is called a nested quotation or a quote within a quote. It may occur, for example, when quoting dialogue from a novel.

To distinguish this quote from the surrounding quote, you enclose it in single (instead of double) quotation marks (even if this involves changing the punctuation from the original text). Make sure to close both sets of quotation marks at the appropriate moments.

Note that if you only quote the nested quotation itself, and not the surrounding text, you can just use double quotation marks.

• Carraway introduces his narrative by quoting his father: “ “ Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, ” he told me, “ just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had ” ” (Fitzgerald 1).
• Carraway introduces his narrative by quoting his father: “‘Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,’ he told me, ‘just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had ” (Fitzgerald 1).
• Carraway introduces his narrative by quoting his father: “‘Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,’ he told me, ‘just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had’” (Fitzgerald 1).
• Carraway begins by quoting his father’s invocation to “remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had” (Fitzgerald 1).

Note:  When the quoted text in the source comes from another source, it’s best to just find that original source in order to quote it directly. If you can’t find the original source, you can instead cite it indirectly .

Often, incorporating a quote smoothly into your text requires you to make some changes to the original text. It’s fine to do this, as long as you clearly mark the changes you’ve made to the quote.

Shortening a quote

If some parts of a passage are redundant or irrelevant, you can shorten the quote by removing words, phrases, or sentences and replacing them with an ellipsis (…). Put a space before and after the ellipsis.

Be careful that removing the words doesn’t change the meaning. The ellipsis indicates that some text has been removed, but the shortened quote should still accurately represent the author’s point.

Altering a quote

You can add or replace words in a quote when necessary. This might be because the original text doesn’t fit grammatically with your sentence (e.g., it’s in a different verb tense), or because extra information is needed to clarify the quote’s meaning.

Use brackets to distinguish words that you have added from words that were present in the original text.

The Latin term “ sic ” is used to indicate a (factual or grammatical) mistake in a quotation. It shows the reader that the mistake is from the quoted material, not a typo of your own.

In some cases, it can be useful to italicize part of a quotation to add emphasis, showing the reader that this is the key part to pay attention to. Use the phrase “emphasis added” to show that the italics were not part of the original text.

You usually don’t need to use brackets to indicate minor changes to punctuation or capitalization made to ensure the quote fits the style of your text.

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If you quote more than a few lines from a source, you must format it as a block quote . Instead of using quotation marks, you set the quote on a new line and indent it so that it forms a separate block of text.

Block quotes are cited just like regular quotes, except that if the quote ends with a period, the citation appears after the period.

To the end of his days Bilbo could never remember how he found himself outside, without a hat, a walking-stick or any money, or anything that he usually took when he went out; leaving his second breakfast half-finished and quite unwashed-up, pushing his keys into Gandalf’s hands, and running as fast as his furry feet could carry him down the lane, past the great Mill, across The Water, and then on for a mile or more. (16)

Avoid relying too heavily on quotes in academic writing . To integrate a source , it’s often best to paraphrase , which means putting the passage in your own words. This helps you integrate information smoothly and keeps your own voice dominant.

However, there are some situations in which quoting is more appropriate.

When focusing on language

If you want to comment on how the author uses language (for example, in literary analysis ), it’s necessary to quote so that the reader can see the exact passage you are referring to.

When giving evidence

To convince the reader of your argument, interpretation or position on a topic, it’s often helpful to include quotes that support your point. Quotes from primary sources (for example, interview transcripts or historical documents) are especially credible as evidence.

When presenting an author’s position or definition

When you’re referring to secondary sources such as scholarly books and journal articles, try to put others’ ideas in your own words when possible.

But if a passage does a great job at expressing, explaining, or defining something, and it would be very difficult to paraphrase without changing the meaning or losing the weakening the idea’s impact, it’s worth quoting directly.

If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools , citation , and plagiarism , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• ChatGPT vs human editor
• ChatGPT citations
• Is ChatGPT trustworthy?
• Using ChatGPT for your studies
• What is ChatGPT?
• Chicago style
• Paraphrasing
• Critical thinking

 Plagiarism

• Types of plagiarism
• Self-plagiarism
• Avoiding plagiarism
• Academic integrity
• Consequences of plagiarism
• Common knowledge

A quote is an exact copy of someone else’s words, usually enclosed in quotation marks and credited to the original author or speaker.

In academic writing , there are three main situations where quoting is the best choice:

• To analyze the author’s language (e.g., in a literary analysis essay )
• To give evidence from primary sources
• To accurately present a precise definition or argument

Don’t overuse quotes; your own voice should be dominant. If you just want to provide information from a source, it’s usually better to paraphrase or summarize .

Every time you quote a source , you must include a correctly formatted in-text citation . This looks slightly different depending on the citation style .

For example, a direct quote in APA is cited like this: “This is a quote” (Streefkerk, 2020, p. 5).

Every in-text citation should also correspond to a full reference at the end of your paper.

A block quote is a long quote formatted as a separate “block” of text. Instead of using quotation marks , you place the quote on a new line, and indent the entire quote to mark it apart from your own words.

The rules for when to apply block quote formatting depend on the citation style:

• APA block quotes are 40 words or longer.
• MLA block quotes are more than 4 lines of prose or 3 lines of poetry.
• Chicago block quotes are longer than 100 words.

If you’re quoting from a text that paraphrases or summarizes other sources and cites them in parentheses , APA and Chicago both recommend retaining the citations as part of the quote. However, MLA recommends omitting citations within a quote:

• APA: Smith states that “the literature on this topic (Jones, 2015; Sill, 2019; Paulson, 2020) shows no clear consensus” (Smith, 2019, p. 4).
• MLA: Smith states that “the literature on this topic shows no clear consensus” (Smith, 2019, p. 4).

Footnote or endnote numbers that appear within quoted text should be omitted in all styles.

If you want to cite an indirect source (one you’ve only seen quoted in another source), either locate the original source or use the phrase “as cited in” in your citation.

In scientific subjects, the information itself is more important than how it was expressed, so quoting should generally be kept to a minimum. In the arts and humanities, however, well-chosen quotes are often essential to a good paper.

In social sciences, it varies. If your research is mainly quantitative , you won’t include many quotes, but if it’s more qualitative , you may need to quote from the data you collected .

As a general guideline, quotes should take up no more than 5–10% of your paper. If in doubt, check with your instructor or supervisor how much quoting is appropriate in your field.

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McCombes, S. & Caulfield, J. (2023, May 31). How to Quote | Citing Quotes in APA, MLA & Chicago. Scribbr. Retrieved August 29, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/how-to-quote/

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Grammar and Style in British English:

A comprehensive guide for students, writers and academics.

• About this site
• The Semicolon
• The Apostrophe
• Quotation Marks
• The Question Mark
• The Exclamation Mark
• Prepositions
• -ed- and -t- Ending Verbs
• The Split Infinitive
• Subject-Verb Agreement
• Styles of Writing
• Person and Speech
• Phrasal Verbs
• Clichés, Pleonasms and Verbosity
• Appendix I: Referencing
• Appendix II: The Generic he
• Appendix III: Word Wise
• Appendix IV: Fallacies

Bibliography

Grammar: Quotation Marks [‘  ’] or [“  ”]

Quotation marks (or inverted commas) may be used singly or doubly. Single marks are generally preferred in British English, while double marks are obligatory in American English.

Page contents:

direct speech and reproduced text titles of short works definitions irony, scorn and jargon with other punctuation marks inappropriate use

Direct Speech and Reproduced Text      

      ‘I don't understand’, said Pat,  ‘ why we need passports to travel to other       EU countries. ’

The actual words spoken by Pat comprise direct speech and must, therefore, be marked off from the rest of the sentence by quotation marks.

But quotation marks are not used with indirect speech (speech that is reported rather than quoted) –

      Pat said that she did not understand why we need passports to travel to       other EU countries.

The same rule applies to reproduced text. If a writer wishes to use the words of another writer, or even her own from another source, the passage is enclosed in quotation marks. Short quotations of up to forty words usually appear in the same paragraph in which they are announced –

      Albert Einstein once said,  ‘ The ideals which have always shone before me       and filled me with the joy of living are goodness, beauty and truth ’ .

The practice for longer quotations varies. In publications such as newspapers, books and magazines, the house style usually requires the  same rule: one paragraph unless the quotation itself requires  more –

         Albert Einstein once said,  ‘ The ideals which have always shone before       me and filled me with the joy of living are goodness, beauty and truth. To       make a goal of comfort or happiness has never appealed to me; a system       of ethics built on this basis would be sufficient only for a herd of cattle.           ‘ Without the sense of collaborating with like-minded beings in the pursuit       of the ever  unattainable in art and scientific research, my life would have       been empty. ’ 1

There are three points to note here. Firstly, when a new paragraph is required, it is single-spaced and has its first line indented by a few spaces. Secondly –   and this applies to all quotations wherever they appear – quotation marks are required to open every paragraph, but to close only the last. If the first  paragraph in our last example had been closed with a quotation mark, the reader would assume that the second was a new quotation. Thirdly, the  comma used immediately before the quotation is optional. It is traditional to use one, but some authorities regard it as redundant. 2

In word-processed scripts and some publications, on the other hand, the practice is to use block quotations in which the entire quotation is indented (not just the first lines) and the quotation marks omitted –

      Albert Einstein once said

         The ideals which have always shone before me and filled me with the joy          of living are goodness, beauty and truth. To make a goal of comfort or          happiness has never appealed to me; a system of ethics built on this basis          would be sufficient only for a herd of cattle.

         Without the sense of collaborating with like-minded beings in the pursuit          of the ever unattainable in art and scientific research, my life would have          been empty. 3  

In publications, the quoted paragraphs are sometimes written in a different, often smaller, font from that of the main text. We often also see a  colon   used in place of the optional comma before the quotation, but the practice is incorrect when, as above, the beginning of the quotation continues  the sentence begun by the introductory phrase, Albert Einstein said…  

In dialogue, a new paragraph is required for each change of speaker, irrespective of length  –

      Inspector Crawford sat on the sofa, resting an arm along the back.            ‘ What were you doing last Thursday evening? ’ , he asked.            ‘ Thursday? That's when I go to my aerobics class ’ , said Joanne.            ‘ And you attended last Thursday? ’             ‘ Yes ’ .       His eyes, locked on hers, revealed nothing and Joanne hoped he was       sufficiently experienced not to misinterpret her blush.

For quotations within quotations, double marks are used if the outer ones are single, and single marks if the outer ones are double  –

       ‘ Reason, Hume believes, is “the slave of the passions”. ’       (Jonathan Wolff) 4

Titles of Short Works

Quotation marks are traditionally used to enclose the titles of articles, short poems and short stories –

       ‘ The Sense of Justice ’  by John Rawls, in Joel Feinberg (ed.), Moral       Concepts , Oxford Readings in Philosophy, OUP, Suffolk, 1975,  p. 120 ff.

       ‘ The Darkling Thrush ’ , by Thomas Hardy

       ‘ The Open Window ’ , by Saki

But newspapers and some referencing systems , now cite titles and articles without quotation marks.

The names of newspapers, books and films take italics .

Definitions

When a word or expression is defined, the definition (or gloss) appears in quotation marks  –

      B.C. stands for  ‘ Before Christ ’.

When the word to be defined is given in its capacity as a word, it appears in italics  –  

      The word democracy derives from the Greek words demos   ‘ people ’  and       kratos   ‘ power ’.

But note that, if the word or expression is paraphrased rather than literally defined, the information is enclosed in commas as an inessential clause and does not take quotation marks  –      

      Deontology, the theory that morality is determined by the notion of duty       rather than consequence , is the foundation of Kant ’ s ethical  philosophy.

Irony, Scorn and Jargon

Quotation marks are sometimes used to indicate irony or scorn. In this capacity, the quotation marks substitute for the expression so-called   –

      The Met Office announced that it had been the coldest  ‘ summer ’  since       records began.

      Her life savings were stolen by her  ‘ friend ’  and neighbour.

They are also sometimes used to show that the expression is not the author’s but part of the jargon of some field of study or expertise   –

      The 400-metre record breaker went on to say that, ever since he could       remember, his  ‘ significant others ’  were sportsmen and athletes.

but this use is condescending if the readership can reasonably be supposed to be familiar with the expression  –

      The owners of dozens of vehicles damaged in the freak hail storm were       dismayed to learn that their insurance companies refused to pay out for       such  ‘a cts of God ’ .

With Other Punctuation Marks

The question of whether to place other punctuation marks inside or outside quotation marks is a controversial one,   both the British and  American  practices being to some extent at variance with logic. The rule would seem obvious: other punctuation marks appear inside the quotation marks  when they are part of the quotation itself, and outside when they are not. It is one of life’s enduring mysteries, however, why neither British nor American conventions  follows this simple principle.

In the case of commas, both versions of the language adhere illogically to the rule that they always appear inside the closing quotation mark  –

       ‘ Tact, ’  said Abraham Lincoln,  ‘ is the ability to describe others as they       see themselves. ’

This is how both versions of the language would present this sentence (except for the substitution of double quotation marks in the case of  American English). But it can be seen at a glance that the first of the two commas is ungrammatically placed. The comma after tact , that is, is actually  the first of a pair that isolate the writer’s comment, said Abraham Lincoln . Lincoln’s actual words contain no commas at all  –  

       ‘ Tact is the ability to describe others as they see themselves. ’

As part of the writer’s  sentences, then, rather than Lincoln’s, the comma should be placed outside the quotation marks  –

       ‘ Tact ’ , said Abraham Lincoln,  ‘ is the ability to describe others as they       see themselves. ’

With full stops, British and American practices differ, the British this time being more consistent with common sense  –

      Abraham Lincoln said,  ‘ tact is the ability to describe others as they see       themselves ’ .  (British)

      Abraham Lincoln said,  “ tact is the ability to describe others as they see       themselves. ”  (American)

What we have done here is to recast the sentence so that it essentially belongs to the quoting author, not the person quoted. The full stop,  therefore, should end the entire sentence (as in the British version), not just the quoted passage (as in the American).

The use of question marks is a little more sensible in both British and American English. They appear correctly outside the quotation marks when  the  question is the quoting writer's  –

      Was it Shakespeare or Donne who said,  ‘ No man is an island, entire of        it self ’ ?

and inside the marks when the quotation is the question  –

      The police officer said,  ‘ May I see some identification, sir? ’

But things get complicated again when a quoted question appears in a sentence that is itself a question  –

      Was it Cain or Abel who said,  ‘ Am I my brother's keeper? ’ ?

Although a little clumsy looking, this is the logical punctuation: two questions, two question marks. But both British and American English diverge  again and use just one question mark, placing it inside the quotation marks  –

      Was it Cain or Abel who said,  ‘ Am I my brother's keeper? ’

To its credit, however, the Modern Humanities Research Association insists on the logical use  –

      Why does Shakespeare give Malcolm the banal question  ‘ O! by        whom? ’ ? 5

The problem for the writer, of course, is which method of punctuation to use. The choice can be only hers but, if she intends to publish, it is  unlikely that the logical versions will survive the editor’s pencil, whether British or American.

Inappropriate Use

Quotation marks should not be used as excuses for clichés when the writer cannot think of anything more original. Clichés are bad enough in themselves without drawing attention to them  –

      When I first saw the rock from the bus, I expected it to be  ‘ a piece of        cake ’ , but then we all  ‘ live and learn ’ . James helped me a great deal,         though. I'd always thought him a bit stuffy, but he turned out to be a         ‘ real brick ’ .

(See also clichés, pleonasms and verbosity .)

____________

1 Albert Einstein in  I Believe , George Allen and Unwin, London, 1965, p. 27. 2 E.g. R. L. Trask, The Penguin Guide to Punctuation , Penguin Books, London, p. 97. 3 Block paragraphing, in fact, is a standard feature of word processing. On this page, for example, the paragraphs of the principal text are separated    by double spaces and have no first-line indentations. 4  Jonathan Wolff, Political Philosophy , Revised Edition, OUP, Oxford, 2006, p. 57. 5   MHRA Style Book , Fifth Edition, Modern Humanities Research Association, 1996, p. 35.

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Home » Quotation Marks in Punctuation: Their Uses, Rules, and Examples

Quotation Marks in Punctuation: Their Uses, Rules, and Examples

Here, we are going to learn all about the quotation mark, which is one of the parts of the punctuation mark in English. In this lesson, we will cover the main uses, rules, and examples of the quotation mark in English. Learn the entire lesson and enhance your English grammar skills. Let’s get started with today’s lesson:

Table of Contents

What are Quotation Marks?

Quotation marks are those curly little symbols we use in writing to indicate spoken or quoted language.

They come in pairs: an opening quotation mark (“) and a closing quotation mark (”). Together, they create a boundary that encloses the quoted text. Here are some examples that are going to help you understand quotation marks:

• “The cat ‘meowed’ loudly outside my window.”
• She said, “I’ll be there at 3 o’clock sharp.”
• He wrote a note that read, “Don’t forget to buy milk!”
• “What do you mean by ‘impossible’?” she asked incredulously.
• The sign said, “Closed for maintenance.”

Types of Quotation Mark

Quotation marks, also known as inverted commas , come in several forms, which vary based on language and typographic conventions. Here are some common types:

• Straight Quotation Marks
• Curly Quotation Marks
• German Quotation Marks
• Single Quotation Marks
• Half-Quotation Marks
• Neutral Quotation Marks

1. Straight Quotation Marks ✔

These are simple vertical marks ( " for double quotes, ' for single quotes) and are commonly used in English-language texts. For example:

• John said, “I’ll meet you at the cafe at 5 o’clock.”
• She whispered, ‘Please be quiet.’

2. Curly Quotation Marks ✔

Also known as smart quotes or typographer’s quotes, these are curved marks (“ ” for double quotes, ‘ ’ for single quotes). They are considered more visually appealing and are often used in professional typesetting. For example:

• The professor emphasized, “It’s crucial to cite your sources accurately.”
• In her essay, she wrote, ‘The author argues that language shapes our perception of reality.’

3. Guillemets ✔

These are angle quotation marks (« » or ‹ ›) commonly used in languages such as French, Russian, and Spanish, among others. They indicate speech or a quotation in many languages outside the English-speaking world. For example:

• Pierre declared, «Je suis très content de te voir» (I am very happy to see you).
• El libro comienza con el proverbio «La verdad os hará libres» (The book begins with the proverb “The truth will set you free”).

4. German Quotation Marks ✔

In German typography, quotation marks are often set as double angular marks („ “ or » «) and are used in a manner similar to English quotes. For example:

• “Das ist ein schöner Tag”, sagte Anna ( “This is a beautiful day,” said Anna).
• „Ich liebe dich“, flüsterte er ( “I love you,” he whispered).

5. Single Quotation Marks ✔

While English typically uses double quotation marks for direct speech or quotations, single quotation marks (‘ ‘) are often used to denote nested quotes or quotations within quotations. For example:

• He replied, “She told me, ‘I’ll be there in a minute.'”
• The teacher asked, “Who said, ‘The pen is mightier than the sword’?”

6. Half-Quotation Marks ✔

These are used in some languages to indicate a partial quote or to highlight a specific word. For instance, the single closing angle quote (›) is used in Greek to mark an emphasized word within a quotation. For example:

• The advertisement read: “The ‘best’ pizza in town!”
• He stressed the importance of ‘patience’ in learning a new language.

7. Neutral Quotation Marks ✔

Some languages, such as Icelandic, use neutral quotation marks („ “) which are similar to English curly quotes but with a different orientation. For example:

• Sie sagte: „Ich bin bereit“ (She said, “I am ready”).
• “Þetta er góður dagur,” sagði hann ( “This is a good day,” he said).

Uses of Quotation Marks

1. Quoting Direct Speech ✔

When someone speaks, we use quotation marks to show their exact words. For example, Sarah said, “I love chocolate ice cream.”

2. Quoting Titles ✔

Quotation marks are used to enclose the titles of shorter works such as articles, poems, and short stories. For example, I just read “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe.

3. Quoting Dialogue in Writing ✔

In stories, plays, or scripts, quotation marks are used to indicate dialogue between characters. For example, “Hey,” she whispered, “are you coming to the party?”

4. Quoting Within a Quotation ✔

Sometimes, a quote within a quote is needed. In such cases, double quotation marks are used for the outer quote, and single quotation marks for the inner quote. For example, John said, “Mary told me, ‘I’ll be there at 5 p.m.’”

5. Quoting Slang or Unusual Words ✔

When using slang terms or words in a non-standard way, quotation marks can signal to the reader that the word is being used in a specific context. For example, he called it a “jam-packed” concert.

Rules for Using Quotation Marks

1. Always Use in Pairs ✔

Quotation marks should always be used in pairs—an opening mark at the beginning of the quoted text and a closing mark at the end.

2. Punctuation Placement ✔

In American English, commas and periods typically go inside the closing quotation mark. Question marks and exclamation points go inside the quotation mark if they are part of the quoted material, but outside if they are not. For example : She asked, “Where are you going?” Did she say, “I love pizza”?

3. Separate Paragraphs ✔

Each time a new speaker begins talking in dialogue, a new paragraph should start, even if it means using opening quotation marks at the start of each paragraph of the same dialogue.

4. Use the Emphasis Sparingly ✔

While quotation marks can be used for emphasis, it’s best to use them sparingly to avoid confusion or diluting their impact.

5. Be Consistent ✔

Stick to one style guide when using quotation marks to maintain consistency throughout your writing. Whether you prefer American or British conventions, choose one and stick with it.

Examples of Quotation Marks in Action

• Direct Speech: She exclaimed, “I can’t believe it’s already Friday!”
• Quoting Titles: I recently watched “The Shawshank Redemption” for the first time.
• Quoting Dialogue: “Do you want to grab dinner later?” asked Tom. “Sure,” replied Emily, “what time?”
• Quoting Within a Quotation: Mary said, “Josh told me, ‘I’ll be there in five minutes.’”
• Quoting Slang: The term “hangry” refers to being irritable due to hunger.

Common Errors with Usage of Quotation Marks

1. Incorrect: “I’m not sure if I can make it to the party tomorrow. There is so much work to do”, said Tom. ❌

Correct: “I’m not sure if I can make it to the party tomorrow. There is so much work to do,” said Tom. ✔

• Explanation: The comma should be placed inside the closing quotation mark as the dialogue continues after the speaker’s attribution.

2. Incorrect: She said, “The book is on the table”. ❌

Correct: She said, “The book is on the table.” ✔

• Explanation: A period should be inside the closing quotation mark to correctly end the sentence.

3. Incorrect: “I love pizza”, “burgers”, and “sushi”. ❌

Correct: “I love pizza,” “burgers,” and “sushi.” ✔

• Explanation: Each quoted item should be separated by commas and enclosed within individual sets of quotation marks.

4. Incorrect: John whispered, “Don’t tell anyone about this”. ❌

Correct: John whispered, “Don’t tell anyone about this.” ✔

• Explanation: The period should be inside the closing quotation mark to properly end the sentence.

5. Incorrect: “The movie was ‘amazing’,” she said. ❌

Correct: “The movie was ‘amazing’,” she said. ✔

• Explanation: Single quotation marks within double quotation marks are used to quote something within a quote, and they should be placed correctly within the sentence.

Question Mark vs. Quotation Mark

Read more about: Question Mark in English

Quotation Marks in Punctuation Images

Quotation Marks in Punctuation

Quotation Marks Uses, Rules, and Examples

Mistakes with Quotation Marks

Quotation Marks in Punctuation Rules, and Examples

Quotation Mark vs. Question Mark

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About the author

A direct quotation reproduces words verbatim from another work or from your own previously published work. It is best to paraphrase sources rather than directly quoting them because paraphrasing allows you to fit material to the context of your paper and writing style.

Use direct quotations rather than paraphrasing:

• when reproducing an exact definition (see Section 6.22 of the Publication Manual ),
• when an author has said something memorably or succinctly, or
• when you want to respond to exact wording (e.g., something someone said).

Instructors, programs, editors, and publishers may establish limits on the use of direct quotations. Consult your instructor or editor if you are concerned that you may have too much quoted material in your paper.

This page addresses how to format short quotations and block quotations. Additional information is available about how to:

• include page numbers for quotations
• cite quotations from material without page numbers
• cite quotations that include errors
• indicate changes to quotations
• present quotations from research participants

Quotations are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Sections 8.25 to 8.35 and the Concise Guide Sections 8.25 to 8.34

Related handout

• In-Text Citation Checklist (PDF, 227KB)

Short quotations (fewer than 40 words)

For quotations of fewer than 40 words, add quotation marks around the words and incorporate the quote into your own text—there is no additional formatting needed. Do not insert an ellipsis at the beginning and/or end of a quotation unless the original source includes an ellipsis.

Effective teams can be difficult to describe because “high performance along one domain does not translate to high performance along another” (Ervin et al., 2018, p. 470).

For a direct quotation, always include a full citation ( parenthetical or narrative ) in the same sentence as the quotation, including the page number (or other location information, e.g., paragraph number).

• Place a parenthetical citation either immediately after the quotation or at the end of the sentence.
• For a narrative citation, include the author and year in the sentence and then place the page number or other location information in parentheses after the quotation.
• If the quotation precedes the narrative citation, put the page number or location information after the year and a comma.
• If the citation appears at the end of a sentence, put the end punctuation after the closing parenthesis for the citation.
• If the quotation includes citations, see Section 8.32 of the Publication Manual .
• If the quotation includes material already in quotation marks, see Section 8.33 of the Publication Manual .
• Place periods and commas within closing single or double quotation marks. Place other punctuation marks inside quotation marks only when they are part of the quoted material.

Block quotations (40 words or more)

Format quotations of 40 words or more as block quotations:

• Do not use quotation marks to enclose a block quotation.
• Start a block quotation on a new line and indent the whole block 0.5 in. from the left margin.
• Double-space the entire block quotation.
• Do not add extra space before or after it.
• If there are additional paragraphs within the quotation, indent the first line of each subsequent paragraph an additional 0.5 in. See an example in Section 8.27 of the Publication Manual .
• Either (a) cite the source in parentheses after the quotation’s final punctuation or (b) cite the author and year in the narrative before the quotation and place only the page number in parentheses after the quotation’s final punctuation.
• Do not add a period after the closing parenthesis in either case.

Block quotation with parenthetical citation:

Researchers have studied how people talk to themselves:

Inner speech is a paradoxical phenomenon. It is an experience that is central to many people’s everyday lives, and yet it presents considerable challenges to any effort to study it scientifically. Nevertheless, a wide range of methodologies and approaches have combined to shed light on the subjective experience of inner speech and its cognitive and neural underpinnings. (Alderson-Day & Fernyhough, 2015, p. 957)

Block quotation with narrative citation:

Flores et al. (2018) described how they addressed potential researcher bias when working with an intersectional community of transgender people of color:

Everyone on the research team belonged to a stigmatized group but also held privileged identities. Throughout the research process, we attended to the ways in which our privileged and oppressed identities may have influenced the research process, findings, and presentation of results. (p. 311)