Avoiding misused quotation marks

Do not use quotation marks for indirect quotations—those that do not relay someone’s exact words.

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Do not use quotation marks just to emphasize particular words or phrases.

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Do not use quotation marks around slang or colloquial language; they create the impression that you are apologizing for using those words. Instead, try to express the idea in formal language. If you have a good reason to use a slang or colloquial term, use it without quotation marks.

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