ENG 101/102 Single and Double Quotation Marks

When to Use If you quote something which is ALREADY enclosed within quotation marks, you need to change the text’s double quotation marks to single quotation marks and then enclose the whole thing in double quotation marks.

Correct Spacing between Double and Single Quotation Marks It should look like this: Julia said, “ ‘It’s real tea. Not blackberry leaves’ ” (Orwell 117). (This example comes from George Orwell’s novel, 1984)

One Incorrect Version If you don’t do it correctly, you may end up with this: INCORRECT: Julia said, “’It’s real tea. ….leaves’ “ (Orwell 117). PROBLEM: some of the quotation marks are facing in the wrong direction & the spacing is incorrect.

Another Incorrect Version INCORRECT: Julia said, “‘It’s real tea... leaves’” (Orwell 117). PROBLEM: the two sets (the outside double ones and the inner single ones) are jammed together with no space between them; it looks as though you’ve created a new mark of punctuation, a TRIPLE quotation mark (which doesn’t exist).

How to Get it Right Here are the steps to follow to get it to look right—the reason that it’s a little tricky is that you have to follow ONE procedure for the OPEN QUOTES and a DIFFERENT procedure for the CLOSE QUOTES.

Five Steps to Perfection 1. For the OPEN QUOTES, type the Julia said part first; then type double (“) quotes and then leave a space (by pressing the space bar) and then type the single (‘) quotes. In this way, they’ll both face in the correct direction— TOWARD the statement you’re quoting from the text.

Next Step... 2.Then, type the quotation; so far, it should look like this: Julia said, “ ‘It’s real tea. Not blackberry leaves

Next Step For the CLOSE QUOTES, type the single and double quotation marks TOGETHER, so that for now it WILL be like this: ’”

Next Step... 4.Then, go ahead and add the parenthetical info and the end punctuation. Julia said, “ ‘It’s real tea. Not blackberry leaves’” (Orwell 117).

And Finally: 5. NEXT, put your cursor between the single and double quotes and ADD a space—press the space bar once. This will separate them without turning one in the wrong direction. Julia said, “ ‘It’s real tea. Not blackberry leaves’ ” (Orwell 117).

There Ya Go! TA-DAAAA now it’s just right!!