Using Quotation Marks Correctly
Rules for Using Quotation Marks Use quotation marks to enclose a direct quotation (a person’s exact words). –Example: Tom said, “It will be a close game.” Do NOT use quotations in an indirect quotation (rewording what someone said). –Example: Tom predicted that it would be a close game. Use quotation marks to enclose a direct quotation (a person’s exact words). –Example: Tom said, “It will be a close game.” Do NOT use quotations in an indirect quotation (rewording what someone said). –Example: Tom predicted that it would be a close game.
Rules for Using Quotation Marks A direct quotation usually begins with a capital letter. –Example: Lisa said, “The carne asada isn’t ready yet, but you can have some chips and salsa.” When the speaker is interrupted by other words in the sentence, the second part of the quotation starts with a lowercase letter. –Example: “The carne asada isn’t ready yet,” Lisa explained, “but you can have some chips and salsa.” A direct quotation usually begins with a capital letter. –Example: Lisa said, “The carne asada isn’t ready yet, but you can have some chips and salsa.” When the speaker is interrupted by other words in the sentence, the second part of the quotation starts with a lowercase letter. –Example: “The carne asada isn’t ready yet,” Lisa explained, “but you can have some chips and salsa.”
A comma or a period should be placed inside the closing quotation marks. –“I like going to the beach,” she said. –She said, “I’m going to the beach today.” If a quotation is a question or an exclamation, the question mark or exclamation point belongs inside the closing quotation marks. –“I can’t wait to go to the beach!” she exclaimed. –“Are you going to the beach?” she asked. –“Jump!” ordered the firefighter. A comma or a period should be placed inside the closing quotation marks. –“I like going to the beach,” she said. –She said, “I’m going to the beach today.” If a quotation is a question or an exclamation, the question mark or exclamation point belongs inside the closing quotation marks. –“I can’t wait to go to the beach!” she exclaimed. –“Are you going to the beach?” she asked. –“Jump!” ordered the firefighter. Rules for Using Quotation Marks
When you write dialogue (a conversation) begin a new paragraph every time the speaker changes. When a quotation is made up of several sentences, put quotation marks only at the beginning and at the end of the whole quotation. If someone quotes what someone else said, use single quotation marks inside the quotation. When you write dialogue (a conversation) begin a new paragraph every time the speaker changes. When a quotation is made up of several sentences, put quotation marks only at the beginning and at the end of the whole quotation. If someone quotes what someone else said, use single quotation marks inside the quotation. Rules for Using Quotation Marks
When should we use quotation marks in titles? Short stories Poems Songs Episodes of a TV show Essays Articles Chapters or parts of a book Short stories Poems Songs Episodes of a TV show Essays Articles Chapters or parts of a book (Use quotation marks for shorter works)
When should we underline titles? Books Plays Magazines Periodicals (newspapers) Films (movies) The title of an entire TV Series Works of Art Long Musical Works Ships, Trains Aircrafts, Spacecrafts Books Plays Magazines Periodicals (newspapers) Films (movies) The title of an entire TV Series Works of Art Long Musical Works Ships, Trains Aircrafts, Spacecrafts (Underline longer works)