Quotation Marks How and When to Use Them

When Someone is Speaking Use to show when someone is speaking Put quotation marks around what is being said Usually punctuation marks (commas, periods, etc) go before the quotation marks

For Example: Mrs. Nardelli said take out your homework. Before you begin she reminded make sure you put your name on your paper. I cannot wait until summer Joey exclaimed.

Notice the Change: Mrs. Nardelli said, “Take out your homework.” “Before you begin,” she reminded, “ make sure you put your name on your paper.” “I cannot wait until summer!” Joey exclaimed.

Mind your P’s and Q’s Generally, as you saw in the last sentences, punctuation marks come before quotation marks

Ready for the exception? If a quote is within a question, but the quote itself is not a question. Here’s an example: Didn’t you say, “Go to the end of the line”?

Here’s another exception! When using semicolons, the semicolons usually come after the quotation marks. Here’s and example: She said, “I wonder how long we will have to take the test”; then she opened her book and started working.

Dialogue Every time the dialogue switches from one speaker to another, go the the next line and indent.

Example “Hello,” said John. “I am really looking forward to English class today.” “Surely you must be joking,” retorted Mary in disbelief. John replied, “I am not joking, and don’t call me Shirley!”

Notice the Change “Hello,” said John. “I am really looking forward to English class today.” “Surely you must be joking,” retorted Mary in disbelief. John replied, “I am not joking, and don’t call me Shirley!”

Now it’s Your Turn Where do we add quotation marks and where do we indent? The weatherman said it’s going to be a great day. The sun will shine and the birds will sing. That’s great exclaimed Jeremy. Now my trip to Busch Gardens won’t be cancelled. Jeremy yelled his mom have you done your chores for the weekend? No retorted Jeremy sheepishly. Well, barked his mother then we cannot go to Busch Gardens. In that case pouted Jeremy I wish it would rain all day.

The weatherman said, “It’s going to be a great day. The sun will shine and the birds will sing.” “That’s great!” exclaimed Jeremy. “Now my trip to Busch Gardens won’t be cancelled.” “Jeremy,” yelled his mom, “have you done your chores for the weekend?” “No,” retorted Jeremy sheepishly. “Well,” barked his mother, “then we cannot go to Busch Gardens.” “In that case,” pouted Jeremy, “I wish it would rain all day.”

More Ways to Use Quotation Marks Put them around chapter titles, songs, magazine articles, newspaper articles, journal articles, episodes of television shows, short story titles, most poems Example: I read “Scout’s Honor” from our literature book.

What About………..? Books, movies, musical productions, magazine titles, newspaper titles, ships? Those are italicized. We are reading The Last Lecture in English class. If you are not using a computer, then underline these. Little=quotation marks; big=italicize

That’s all for now! When do we use quotation marks? Where do the punctuation marks (like commas, periods, etc.) usually go? What’s an exception? What do we do when a speaker shifts in a dialogue?