{"id":1041,"date":"2020-01-17T17:39:45","date_gmt":"2020-01-17T17:39:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/coreqenglish1\/chapter\/text-apostrophes-and-quotation-marks\/"},"modified":"2025-02-06T18:49:16","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T18:49:16","slug":"quotation-marks","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/quotation-marks\/","title":{"raw":"Quotation Marks","rendered":"Quotation Marks"},"content":{"raw":"
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n

Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Demonstrate the appropriate use of quotation marks<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
    \r\n\r\nQuotation marks are essential in academic writing whenever you use someone else\u2019s exact words. Failing to use them correctly can be considered a violation of academic integrity (plagiarism), so it\u2019s important to understand how to use them properly.\r\n

    When to Use Quotation Marks<\/h2>\r\nYou must use quotation marks whenever you directly quote<\/strong> a source\u2014i.e., when using the exact wording from another text.\r\n
    \r\n

    Example: direct quotes<\/h3>\r\n\u201cQuotation marks serve primarily to tell the reader the exact words someone used\u201d (Hope, 2010, p. 21).<\/em>\r\n\r\nThis citation tells us that Hope (2010) wrote this sentence on page 21.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nIf you paraphrase a source (put the idea into your own words), you do not<\/strong> use quotation marks, but you must<\/strong> still cite the source.\r\n
    \r\n

    Example: Paraphrasing<\/h3>\r\nQuotation marks indicate to the reader the specific words originally written by someone else (Hope, 2010, p. 21).<\/em>\r\n\r\nHere, we\u2019ve restated Hope\u2019s idea in our own words, so we omit quotation marks but retain the citation.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
    \r\n

    Key Takeaway: Using quotation marks<\/h3>\r\nAny words or ideas from another source must be acknowledged. If you\u2019re using the exact wording, put it in quotation marks and provide a citation. If you\u2019re putting the idea into your own words, you don\u2019t need quotation marks, but you do<\/strong> still need to cite the source.\r\n\r\nThink of quotation marks as a signal to your reader: \u201cThese words aren\u2019t mine, but I\u2019m using them exactly as they were written.\u201d When you paraphrase, you\u2019re still borrowing the idea, so you need to give credit, but you\u2019re showing that you\u2019ve processed and restated it in your own way.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    Other Uses of Quotation Marks<\/h2>\r\nQuotation marks have additional functions beyond direct quotations.\r\n

    Quoting Speech<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nUse quotation marks when reproducing someone\u2019s exact words:\r\n
    \r\n

    Example: reproducing speech<\/h3>\r\n
      \r\n \t
    • She said, \u201cI\u2019ll meet you at the library after class.\u201d<\/li>\r\n \t
    • As Dr. King famously stated, \u201cInjustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.\u201d<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\nHowever, quotation marks are not needed for paraphrased speech<\/strong>, which summarizes what someone said without repeating it exactly:\r\n
      \r\n

      Example: Paraphrased Speech<\/h3>\r\n
        \r\n \t
      • She told me she would meet me at the library after class.<\/li>\r\n \t
      • Dr. King argued that injustice in one place affects justice everywhere.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

        Highlighting Words<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nQuotation marks can be used to call attention to a specific word, but italics are preferred in formal writing.\r\n
        \r\n

        Example: Highlighted words<\/h3>\r\nFor example:\r\n
          \r\n \t
        • I can never say \u201cWorcestershire\u201d correctly.<\/li>\r\n \t
        • How do you spell \u201cdefinitely\u201d?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nNote:<\/strong> It is this course\u2019s preference to use italics in these instances:\r\n
            \r\n \t
          • I can never say\u00a0Worcestershire<\/em> correctly.<\/li>\r\n \t
          • How do you spell\u00a0definitely<\/em>?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
            PRO TIP:<\/strong> While we recommend using italics in these instances, using quotes is also an accepted practice.<\/div>\r\n

            Scare Quotes<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nScare quotes signal irony, skepticism, or that a term is being used in a non-standard or questionable way:\r\n
            \r\n

            Examples<\/h3>\r\n
              \r\n \t
            • The \u201cfresh\u201d sushi had clearly been sitting out for hours.<\/li>\r\n \t
            • The company claims they offer \u201cunlimited\u201d data, but there are hidden restrictions.<\/li>\r\n \t
            • Employees \u201cmust\u201d wash their hands before returning to work.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
              PRO TIP: Use caution! Scare quotes should be used with caution because they can imply irony, doubt, or skepticism, which may unintentionally change the meaning of a sentence. If overused or misapplied, they can weaken your argument, make your writing seem sarcastic, or create confusion about whether a term is being questioned or simply emphasized.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\r\n

              Titles of Short Works<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nUse quotation marks for the titles of short works, such as articles, poems, chapters, and songs:\r\n
              \r\n

              Examples: Titles of Short works<\/h3>\r\n
                \r\n \t
              • Articles<\/strong> \u2013 I just read the New York Times<\/em> article, \u201cThe Science of Learning.\u201d<\/li>\r\n \t
              • Poems<\/strong> \u2013 One of my favorite poems is \u201cThe Road Not Taken\u201d by Robert Frost.<\/li>\r\n \t
              • Chapters<\/strong> \u2013 The chapter \u201cUnderstanding Quotation Marks\u201d helped clarify the topic.<\/li>\r\n \t
              • Songs<\/strong> \u2013 Have you heard \u201cLet It Be\u201d by The Beatles?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\nFor larger works<\/strong>, such as books, magazines, newspapers, and movies, use italics:\r\n
                \r\n

                Examples: Larger works need italics<\/h3>\r\n
                  \r\n \t
                • Books<\/strong> \u2013 I\u2019m reading To Kill a Mockingbird<\/em> for my English class.<\/li>\r\n \t
                • Magazines<\/strong> \u2013 I read an interesting article in The Atlantic<\/em> about climate change the other day.<\/li>\r\n \t
                • Newspapers<\/strong> \u2014 Did you read The\u00a0New Yorker<\/em> article, \u201cHow to Make Yourself Useful to Our New Robot Overlords\u201d? (Notice that the journal, The New Yorker<\/em>, gets italics because it is the title of a larger body of work, but the title of the article published in the journal, gets quotation marks.)<\/li>\r\n \t
                • Movies<\/strong> \u2014 Have you seen Inception<\/em>?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
                  \r\n
                  \r\n

                  Where Do Quotation Marks Go?<\/h2>\r\nDespite what you may see practiced,\u00a0the fact is that the period and comma always\u00a0go inside the quotation marks.\u00a0(The rules in British English are\u00a0different, which may be where some of the confusion arises.)\r\n
                  \r\n

                  Examples: periods and commas<\/h3>\r\nPeriods go inside the quotation marks:\r\n
                    \r\n \t
                  • Correct: The people of the pine barrens are often called \u201cpineys.\u201d<\/li>\r\n \t
                  • Incorrect: The people of the pine barrens are often called \u201cpineys\u201d.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nCommas go inside the quotation marks:\r\n
                      \r\n \t
                    • \u201cLet\u2019s grab some coffee,\u201d Mark suggested, \u201cbefore heading to the library.\u201d<\/li>\r\n \t
                    • \u201cLet\u2019s grab some coffee\u201d, Mark suggested, \u201cbefore heading to the library.\u201d<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\nThe semicolon, colon, dash, question mark, and exclamation point can fall inside or outside of the quotation marks, depending on\u00a0whether the punctuation is a part of the original quote:\r\n
                      \r\n

                      Examples: Other punctuation<\/h3>\r\n
                        \r\n \t
                      • This measurement is commonly known as \u201cdip angle\u201d; dip angle is the angle formed between a normal plane and a vertical.<\/li>\r\n \t
                      • Built only 50 years ago, Shakhtinsk\u2014\u201cminetown\u201d\u2014is already seedy.<\/li>\r\n \t
                      • When she was asked the question \u201cAre rainbows possible in winter?\u201d she answered by examining whether raindrops freeze at temperatures below 0 \u00b0C. (Quoted material has its own punctuation.)<\/li>\r\n \t
                      • Did he really say \u201cDogs are the devil's henchmen\u201d? (The quote is a statement, but the full sentence is a question.)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
                        \r\n
                        \r\n

                        Try It<\/h3>\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/e81046a2-04b0-4d38-999a-94622b54d09d\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

                        Single Quotation Marks<\/h2>\r\nNow that you know what quotation marks are used for, you may wonder about the single quotation marks\u2014the one that looks like \u2018this.\u2019 Single quotation marks are used for quotes within quotes:\r\n
                        \r\n

                        Example: Single Quotation marks<\/h3>\r\n
                          \r\n \t
                        • The article read, \u201cWhen the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers was interviewed, he said he was \u2018upset\u2019 about the call that affected the game.\u201d<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\nYou may even encounter situations where you\u2019ll close single quotation marks and double quotation marks at the same time, leaving you with \u201csomething like \u2018this.\u2019\u201d Don\u2019t worry if this happens. It is correct. It just means the quote within the quote ended at the same time the main quote ended. And remember, the punctuation goes inside. Note the placement of the period in the three examples below:\r\n
                            \r\n \t
                          • Correct:<\/strong> this.\u2019\u201d<\/li>\r\n \t
                          • Incorrect: this\u2019.\u201d<\/li>\r\n \t
                          • Incorrect: this\u2019\u201d.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
                            \r\n

                            Try It<\/h3>\r\n[embed]https:\/\/lumenlearning.h5p.com\/content\/1290910546657755148\/embed[\/embed]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"
                            \n
                            \n
                            \n

                            Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n
                              \n
                            • Demonstrate the appropriate use of quotation marks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                              \n

                              Quotation marks are essential in academic writing whenever you use someone else\u2019s exact words. Failing to use them correctly can be considered a violation of academic integrity (plagiarism), so it\u2019s important to understand how to use them properly.<\/p>\n

                              When to Use Quotation Marks<\/h2>\n

                              You must use quotation marks whenever you directly quote<\/strong> a source\u2014i.e., when using the exact wording from another text.<\/p>\n

                              \n

                              Example: direct quotes<\/h3>\n

                              \u201cQuotation marks serve primarily to tell the reader the exact words someone used\u201d (Hope, 2010, p. 21).<\/em><\/p>\n

                              This citation tells us that Hope (2010) wrote this sentence on page 21.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

                              If you paraphrase a source (put the idea into your own words), you do not<\/strong> use quotation marks, but you must<\/strong> still cite the source.<\/p>\n

                              \n

                              Example: Paraphrasing<\/h3>\n

                              Quotation marks indicate to the reader the specific words originally written by someone else (Hope, 2010, p. 21).<\/em><\/p>\n

                              Here, we\u2019ve restated Hope\u2019s idea in our own words, so we omit quotation marks but retain the citation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

                              \n

                              Key Takeaway: Using quotation marks<\/h3>\n

                              Any words or ideas from another source must be acknowledged. If you\u2019re using the exact wording, put it in quotation marks and provide a citation. If you\u2019re putting the idea into your own words, you don\u2019t need quotation marks, but you do<\/strong> still need to cite the source.<\/p>\n

                              Think of quotation marks as a signal to your reader: \u201cThese words aren\u2019t mine, but I\u2019m using them exactly as they were written.\u201d When you paraphrase, you\u2019re still borrowing the idea, so you need to give credit, but you\u2019re showing that you\u2019ve processed and restated it in your own way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                              Other Uses of Quotation Marks<\/h2>\n

                              Quotation marks have additional functions beyond direct quotations.<\/p>\n

                              Quoting Speech<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                              Use quotation marks when reproducing someone\u2019s exact words:<\/p>\n

                              \n

                              Example: reproducing speech<\/h3>\n
                                \n
                              • She said, \u201cI\u2019ll meet you at the library after class.\u201d<\/li>\n
                              • As Dr. King famously stated, \u201cInjustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

                                However, quotation marks are not needed for paraphrased speech<\/strong>, which summarizes what someone said without repeating it exactly:<\/p>\n

                                \n

                                Example: Paraphrased Speech<\/h3>\n
                                  \n
                                • She told me she would meet me at the library after class.<\/li>\n
                                • Dr. King argued that injustice in one place affects justice everywhere.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

                                  Highlighting Words<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                                  Quotation marks can be used to call attention to a specific word, but italics are preferred in formal writing.<\/p>\n

                                  \n

                                  Example: Highlighted words<\/h3>\n

                                  For example:<\/p>\n

                                    \n
                                  • I can never say \u201cWorcestershire\u201d correctly.<\/li>\n
                                  • How do you spell \u201cdefinitely\u201d?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                    Note:<\/strong> It is this course\u2019s preference to use italics in these instances:<\/p>\n

                                      \n
                                    • I can never say\u00a0Worcestershire<\/em> correctly.<\/li>\n
                                    • How do you spell\u00a0definitely<\/em>?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                                      PRO TIP:<\/strong> While we recommend using italics in these instances, using quotes is also an accepted practice.<\/div>\n

                                      Scare Quotes<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                                      Scare quotes signal irony, skepticism, or that a term is being used in a non-standard or questionable way:<\/p>\n

                                      \n

                                      Examples<\/h3>\n
                                        \n
                                      • The \u201cfresh\u201d sushi had clearly been sitting out for hours.<\/li>\n
                                      • The company claims they offer \u201cunlimited\u201d data, but there are hidden restrictions.<\/li>\n
                                      • Employees \u201cmust\u201d wash their hands before returning to work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                                        PRO TIP: Use caution! Scare quotes should be used with caution because they can imply irony, doubt, or skepticism, which may unintentionally change the meaning of a sentence. If overused or misapplied, they can weaken your argument, make your writing seem sarcastic, or create confusion about whether a term is being questioned or simply emphasized.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

                                        Titles of Short Works<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                                        Use quotation marks for the titles of short works, such as articles, poems, chapters, and songs:<\/p>\n

                                        \n

                                        Examples: Titles of Short works<\/h3>\n
                                          \n
                                        • Articles<\/strong> \u2013 I just read the New York Times<\/em> article, \u201cThe Science of Learning.\u201d<\/li>\n
                                        • Poems<\/strong> \u2013 One of my favorite poems is \u201cThe Road Not Taken\u201d by Robert Frost.<\/li>\n
                                        • Chapters<\/strong> \u2013 The chapter \u201cUnderstanding Quotation Marks\u201d helped clarify the topic.<\/li>\n
                                        • Songs<\/strong> \u2013 Have you heard \u201cLet It Be\u201d by The Beatles?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

                                          For larger works<\/strong>, such as books, magazines, newspapers, and movies, use italics:<\/p>\n

                                          \n

                                          Examples: Larger works need italics<\/h3>\n
                                            \n
                                          • Books<\/strong> \u2013 I\u2019m reading To Kill a Mockingbird<\/em> for my English class.<\/li>\n
                                          • Magazines<\/strong> \u2013 I read an interesting article in The Atlantic<\/em> about climate change the other day.<\/li>\n
                                          • Newspapers<\/strong> \u2014 Did you read The\u00a0New Yorker<\/em> article, \u201cHow to Make Yourself Useful to Our New Robot Overlords\u201d? (Notice that the journal, The New Yorker<\/em>, gets italics because it is the title of a larger body of work, but the title of the article published in the journal, gets quotation marks.)<\/li>\n
                                          • Movies<\/strong> \u2014 Have you seen Inception<\/em>?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                                            \n
                                            \n

                                            Where Do Quotation Marks Go?<\/h2>\n

                                            Despite what you may see practiced,\u00a0the fact is that the period and comma always\u00a0go inside the quotation marks.\u00a0(The rules in British English are\u00a0different, which may be where some of the confusion arises.)<\/p>\n

                                            \n

                                            Examples: periods and commas<\/h3>\n

                                            Periods go inside the quotation marks:<\/p>\n

                                              \n
                                            • Correct: The people of the pine barrens are often called \u201cpineys.\u201d<\/li>\n
                                            • Incorrect: The people of the pine barrens are often called \u201cpineys\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                              Commas go inside the quotation marks:<\/p>\n

                                                \n
                                              • \u201cLet\u2019s grab some coffee,\u201d Mark suggested, \u201cbefore heading to the library.\u201d<\/li>\n
                                              • \u201cLet\u2019s grab some coffee\u201d, Mark suggested, \u201cbefore heading to the library.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

                                                The semicolon, colon, dash, question mark, and exclamation point can fall inside or outside of the quotation marks, depending on\u00a0whether the punctuation is a part of the original quote:<\/p>\n

                                                \n

                                                Examples: Other punctuation<\/h3>\n
                                                  \n
                                                • This measurement is commonly known as \u201cdip angle\u201d; dip angle is the angle formed between a normal plane and a vertical.<\/li>\n
                                                • Built only 50 years ago, Shakhtinsk\u2014\u201cminetown\u201d\u2014is already seedy.<\/li>\n
                                                • When she was asked the question \u201cAre rainbows possible in winter?\u201d she answered by examining whether raindrops freeze at temperatures below 0 \u00b0C. (Quoted material has its own punctuation.)<\/li>\n
                                                • Did he really say \u201cDogs are the devil’s henchmen\u201d? (The quote is a statement, but the full sentence is a question.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                                                  \n
                                                  \n

                                                  Try It<\/h3>\n

                                                  \t