Using Quotation Marks Why are quotation marks important? Direct quotations Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations within quotations Quotation marks for titles Review A Review B

Why are quotation marks important? In everyday conversation, it’s easy to tell who said what. Do you have a favorite writer? I really like Edgar Allan Poe.

Why are quotation marks important? In writing, the only way we can show exactly who is speaking, and when, is by the use of quotation marks. Do you have a favorite writer? Jaime asked. “ ” “ I really like Edgar Allan Poe, said Maria. ” [End of Section]

Direct quotations Use quotation marks to enclose a direct quotation—a person’s exact words. Rita said, “This car is making a strange noise.” “Maybe we should pull over,” suggested Amy.

Grammar Gal Says... Direct quotations Do not use quotation marks for an indirect quotation—a rewording of a direct quotation. Grammar Gal Says... Vicki said, “I’m going to wash the car.” Direct quotation Vicki said that she was going to wash the car. Indirect quotation

Direct quotations When an interrupting expression divides a direct quotation into two parts, place quotation marks around both parts of the quoted statement. “I want to sit here,” Anna said, “not over there.” One quoted sentence with an interrupting expression “Let’s compromise,” said Sylvia. “We’ll sit in one of the middle rows.” New quoted sentence following the interrupting expression

Direct quotations A direct quotation can be set off from the rest of a sentence by a comma, a question mark, or an exclamation point, but not by a period. “Your Julius Caesar project is due on the Ides of March,” Mr. Chen announced. Comma “On what date does the Ides of March fall?” Tony asked. Question mark “That’s easy!” Dorothy exclaimed. “It’s March 15!” Exclamation point

Direct quotations Place commas and periods inside the closing quotation marks. “I haven’t seen the movie yet,” remarked Juan, “but I’ve heard it’s excellent.”

Direct quotations Place semicolons and colons outside the closing quotation marks. The Greek philosopher Socrates once said, “As for me, all I know is that I know nothing”; this is one reason people consider him a wise man. The following students have been named “most likely to succeed”: Corey Baxter and Sally Ling.

Direct quotations Place question marks and exclamation points inside the closing quotation marks if the quotation itself is a question or an exclamation. “Is it cold in here?” the server asked. The quoted sentence is a question. “Yes!” I answered. “Please turn down the air conditioner!” Both direct quotations are exclamations.

Direct quotations If the quotation itself is not a question or an exclamation, place the question mark or exclamation point outside the quotation marks. Why did you say to her, “It doesn’t matter”? The quoted part is not a question, but the whole sentence is. It’s not an insult to be called a “bookworm”! The quoted part is not an exclamation, but the whole sentence is.

Grammar Gal Says... ?” Direct quotations Sometimes both the whole sentence and the quotation are questions (or exclamations). Grammar Gal Says... Who asked, “What time is it ?” Use just one question mark (or exclamation point), and place it inside the closing quotation marks.

Direct quotations Add quotation marks where they are needed in the following sentences. 1. It was a long journey, said Casey. 2. George yelled, Watch out for that pole! 3. At the age of six, explained Mr. Reyes, I moved to Colorado. 4. Did Frances really say, Don’t wait for me?

Direct quotations Add quotation marks where they are needed in the following sentences. “ ” 1. It was a long journey, said Casey. The quotation marks go before and after the direct quotation. The comma is placed inside the closing quotation marks.

Direct quotations Add quotation marks where they are needed in the following sentences. “ 2. George yelled, Watch out for that pole! ” The quotation marks go before and after the direct quotation. The exclamation point is placed inside the closing quotation marks because the quotation itself is an exclamation.

“ ” “ ” Direct quotations Add quotation marks where they are needed in the following sentences. “ ” 3. At the age of six, explained Mr. Reyes, I moved to Colorado. “ ” Quotation marks must enclose both parts of the direct quotation. Periods and commas go inside closing quotation marks.

Direct quotations Add quotation marks where they are needed in the following sentences. “ ” 4. Did Frances really say, Don’t wait for me ? The quotation marks go before and after the direct quotation. The question mark is placed outside the closing quotation marks because the quotation itself is not a question.

Direct quotations On Your Own Add quotation marks where they are needed in the following sentences. We should visit some castles while we are in England, Mom suggested. 2. Our guide said, Warwick Castle is one of the most beautiful. 3. Jason asked, Are any of the castles haunted? 4. No, said Mom, but we’ll stay close together. 5. Did Jason say, I like the collection of suits of armor best? [End of Section]

“ ” “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ” Direct quotations Answers Add quotation marks where they are needed in the following sentences. We should visit some castles while we are in England, Mom suggested. 2. Our guide said, Warwick Castle is one of the most beautiful. 3. Jason asked, Are any of the castles haunted? 4. No, said Mom, but we’ll stay close together. 5. Did Jason say, I like the collection of suits of armor best ? “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ”

Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations within quotations When you write dialogue (conversation), begin a new paragraph every time the speaker changes. “Do you want to go to the park today?” Mel asked. “Sure,” said Sergio. “May I bring my dog, Rufus? He could use some exercise.” “In about thirty minutes,” Mel answered. “Sounds good to me. Meet me back here in about half an hour.”

Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations within quotations For a quoted passage with several paragraphs, put quotation marks at the beginning of each paragraph and at the end of the last paragraph. “Now, this car is one of our hottest sellers. It has bucket seats, a built-in DVD player, and alloy wheels. “It’s also one of the safest cars on the road because of its heavy suspension and antilock brake system. It gets good gas mileage, too. “All in all, I think this would be the perfect car for you.”

Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations within quotations Use single quotation marks to enclose a quotation within a quotation. Ron said, “My parrot can say, ‘I’m a pretty bird.’ Do you want to hear it?” Helena told me, “It was Ron who said, ‘Parrots make great pets.’”

Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations within quotations Correct each item by adding quotation marks and single quotation marks where necessary and by showing where each new paragraph should begin. 1. Who shot that ball? Coach Bird wanted to know. I did, came the reply from the small, shy player. Good job, said the coach. 2. Grace asked me, What is your favorite quotation about friendship? Well, I said, I like one by Ralph Waldo Emerson. He wrote, The only way to have a friend is to be one.

Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations within quotations Correct each item by adding quotation marks and single quotation marks where necessary and by showing where each new paragraph should begin. 1. Who shot that ball? Coach Bird wanted to know. I did, came the reply from the small, shy player. Good job, said the coach. “ ” “ ” “ ”

Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations within quotations Correct each item by adding quotation marks and single quotation marks where necessary and by showing where each new paragraph should begin. 2. Grace asked me, What is your favorite quotation about friendship? Well, I said, I like one by Ralph Waldo Emerson. He wrote, The only way to have a friend is to be one. “ ” “ ” “ ‘ ’ ”

Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations within quotations On Your Own Correct the following passage by adding quotation marks and single quotation marks where needed. Also show where each new paragraph should begin. I can’t wait for our camping trip! Alicia exclaimed. It’s going to be so much fun. Don’t forget, responded her brother Brian, Dad said that we have to help make a list and pack all the essentials. I know, said Alicia, and wasn’t it Mom who said, Make sure you’re prepared or you can’t go along? [End of Section]

Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations within quotations Answers Correct the following passage by adding quotation marks and single quotation marks where needed. Also tell where each new paragraph should begin. “ I can’t wait for our camping trip! Alicia exclaimed. It’s going to be so much fun. Don’t forget, responded her brother Brian, Dad said that we have to help make a list and pack all the essentials. I know, said Alicia, and wasn’t it Mom who said, Make sure you’re prepared or you can’t go along ? ” “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ‘ ’ ”

Quotation marks for titles Use quotation marks to enclose titles of short works such as short stories, poems, essays, articles, songs, and chapters and other parts of books and periodicals. Poem “Fire and Ice” Essay “Charley in Yellowstone” Short story “The Pit and the Pendulum”

Quotation marks for titles For titles within quotations, use single quotation marks. Grammar Gal Says... “Carl Sandburg wrote the poem Fog, ” said Terry. ‘ ’ Val asked, “Did you like my rendition of America the Beautiful ?” ‘ ’

Quotation marks for titles Identify the title in each sentence. Then correct the sentence by adding quotation marks where needed. 1. I learned the information from an essay called Digital Communication in the 21st Century. 2. Have you read the story The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry? 3. Born in the USA is my sister’s favorite Bruce Springsteen song.

Quotation marks for titles Identify the title in each sentence. Then correct the sentence by adding quotation marks where needed. 1. I learned the information from an essay called Digital Communication in the 21st Century. “ ” Essay title—Digital Communication in the 21st Century Enclose title in quotation marks.

Quotation marks for titles Identify the title in each sentence. Then correct the sentence by adding quotation marks where needed. 2. Have you read the story The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry? “ ” Story title—The Gift of the Magi Enclose title in quotation marks.

Quotation marks for titles Identify the title in each sentence. Then correct the sentence by adding quotation marks where needed. “ ” 3. Born in the USA is my sister’s favorite Bruce Springsteen song. Song title—Born in the USA Enclose title in quotation marks.

Quotation marks for titles On Your Own Correct each sentence by adding quotation marks where needed. 1. Mr. Guerra explained that the story Luke Baldwin’s Vow deals with conflicts in values. 2. Kim’s report, which she titled The Wit of Oscar Wilde, includes quotations from the short story The Happy Prince. 3. I think Words to Live By would be an excellent title for our song. 4. Next, read the chapter titled Talk of the Town. [End of Section]

Quotation marks for titles Answers Correct each sentence by adding quotation marks where needed. 1. Mr. Guerra explained that the story Luke Baldwin’s Vow deals with conflicts in values. 2. Kim’s report, which she titled The Wit of Oscar Wilde, includes quotations from the short story The Happy Prince. 3. I think Words to Live By would be an excellent title for our song. 4. Next, read the chapter titled Talk of the Town. “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ”

Review A Add quotation marks and single quotation marks where they are needed in the following sentences. 1. Ms. Loudon said, I enjoyed your poem. 2. I read Kurt Vonnegut’s short story Harrison Bergeron last week. 3. Maybe, Max said, I’ll check out this grand opening. 4. Have you read Fran Lebowitz’s essay Tips for Teens? 5. I think Teresa really meant it when she yelled, Stay out! said Julia. [End of Section]

” ” ” ” ” ’ ” Review A “ “ “ “ “ “ ‘ Add quotation marks and single quotation marks where they are needed in the following sentences. 1. Ms. Loudon said, I enjoyed your poem. 2. I read Kurt Vonnegut’s short story Harrison Bergeron last week. 3. Maybe, Max said, I’ll check out this grand opening. 4. Have you read Fran Lebowitz’s essay Tips for Teens ? 5. I think Teresa really meant it when she yelled, Stay out! said Julia. “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ‘ ’ ”

Review B Correct the following passage by adding quotation marks where needed. Also show where each new paragraph should begin. Before our field trip begins, continued Mrs. Garcia, be sure you have a notebook and pen. Will we need binoculars? asked Melvin. Leave your binoculars at home, answered Mrs. Garcia. Your ears will be more helpful than your eyes on this trip. That’s right! exclaimed Felicia. We’re going to see how many bird calls we can identify. [End of Section]

Review B “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ” Correct the following passage by adding quotation marks where needed. Also show where each new paragraph should begin. Before our field trip begins, continued Mrs. Garcia, be sure you have a notebook and pen. Will we need binoculars? asked Melvin. Leave your binoculars at home, answered Mrs. Garcia. Your ears will be more helpful than your eyes on this trip. That’s right! exclaimed Felicia. We’re going to see how many bird calls we can identify. “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ” “ ”

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