 When you use quotation marks to enclose a direct quote, you must separate introductory or explanatory remarks from the quotation with a comma.  Example: The man looked at Angie and said, “I believe you are to blame for this.”

 Do not use a comma after a quotation that ends with an exclamation point or a question mark.  Example: “What are you doing here?” the police officer asked.

 Short stories, poems, essays, newspaper and magazine articles, book chapters and songs are put in quotation marks.  Examples: “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant  “A Tell-Tale Heart” by Poe  “Cheeseburger in Paradise” by Jimmy Buffett

 Titles of books, long poems, plays, films, television series, works of art, and long musical compositions are printed in italics.  Examples: To Kill a Mockingbird by Lee  The Iliad by Homer  Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare  The Social Network won several Oscars.  Family Guy is both offensive and entertaining.

 When composing formal papers or essays, it is important that you always assume that your teacher wants you to use formal language.

 Here are some rules for using formal language.  Do not use contractions.  Do not use personal pronouns like I, me, or mine.  Do not use slang such as crib, chick, or dude.  Do not use abbreviations such as T.V.  NO TEXT LANGUAGE!!!!! (IDK)

 Forget all that stuff I just said…