When you are reading a novel, there are a lot of times you will encounter quotation marks within a sentence. Therefore, what are these quotation marks? Are there any special ways, such as quotation marks rules, if we want to apply them?
Quotation marks are punctuation marks used in direct speech, quotations from sources, or writing to emphasize certain words or phrases.
The symbols of quotation marks are the character pairs that are either double quotation marks (” “) or single quotation marks (‘ ‘). The opening quote is at the beginning of the quoted text, and the closing quote is at the end. For example, if someone says “Hello”, use quotation marks to indicate that those are exactly the words spoken.
Next, as you understand the definition of quotation marks, we will discuss how to use this symbol.
How to Use Quotation Marks?
Actually, you can use quotation marks in many different ways. You need to understand each context in the sentences. Therefore, here are some common uses of quotation marks.
Direct speech
You can use quotation marks to indicate that a person is speaking directly. As an example:
“I love chocolate,” said Jane.
Quote Source
Next, you can also use this symbol when quoting other people’s words or ideas. For example:
“Kim Whanki changes his art style after he understands Parisians abstract,” the article says.
Title
The third one, people also use quotation marks to indicate the title of a short work. Such as a poem, article, or any kind of short story. For example:
“The Raven” is one of the most famous poems by Allan Edgar Poe.
Phrases to Emphasize
Other than showing titles, you also can use this symbol to emphasize certain words or phrases. For example:
The word “hope” frequently appears in her poems.
Sarcasm or Sarcastic
You can indicate a word is sarcasm or sarcastic when you put quotation marks on the sentence. As an example:
He said he was “excited” to be stuck in traffic for three hours.
Note that different style guides may have different quoting conventions. Always check the specific style guide being used to ensure correct usage. Additionally, some languages or countries may use different punctuation marks to indicate direct speech or quotations.
Now, let’s talk about some rules you need to follow when using quotation marks.
Rules on Using Quotation Marks
Almost the same as the other symbols, quotation marks also have some rules when we want to use them in a sentence. Thus, here are some general rules to remember when using quotation marks in English.
Use Double Quotes for Direct Speech
Use double quotation marks (” “) to quote someone’s exact words or lines. For example:
“I love pizza,” said Tom.
Use Single Quotes for Quotes within Quotes
Use single quotes (‘ ‘) if you need quotes within quotes. As an example:
“So, what if Greg said ‘I love you,’ to her?” Liam asked.
Punctuation within Quotes
In American English, you can put quotation marks within commas and periods. For example:
She said, “I’ll be right there.”
However, in British English, punctuation marks are placed outside quotation marks unless they are part of the quoted text. Thus, you can easily use italics for titles of longer works. For example:
In English class, she read To Kill a Mockingbird.
Use Quotation Marks for Short Work Titles
Use quotation marks for titles of short works such as articles, essays, short stories, and poems. As an example:
In her writing class, she read an article called “How to Write a Good Essay.”
Words That are Used in a Special Way
Use quotation marks when you use a word in a special way or indicate sarcasm or sarcasm. For example:
He said the movie was “great”, but it was really bad.
Now, you already know about quotation marks, from how to use them to quotation marks rules you need to remember. To enhance your understanding of using any symbols in English, you can visit the English Fun Course! Therefore, it will be easier for you to start learning English!