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Quotation Marks

Quotation marks (“ ”) always appear in pairs. Quotation marks are used with direct quotations and to set off titles.

Quotation Marks for Direct Quotations

When you write a direct quotation, use quotation marks around the quoted words. Quotation marks tell readers that the words used are exactly what was said or written.

“I do not know what she means,” I said to my friend Lina.
Lina asked, “Do you think we should ask a question?”
“Excuse me, Professor Soames,” I called out, “but could you explain that again?”
“Yes,” said Professor Soames. “Let me make sure you all understand.”

When you are writing a paper that uses outside sources, use quotation marks to indicate where you quote the exact words of a source.

We all need to become more conscientious recyclers. A recent editorial in the Bolton Common reported, “When recycling volunteers spot-checked bags that were supposed to contain only newspaper, they found a collection of nonrecyclable items such as plastic candy wrappers, aluminum foil, and birthday cards.”

When quoting, writers usually use words that identify who is speaking, such as I said to my friend Lina in the first example on the previous page. The identifying words can come after the quoted words (example 1), before them (example 2), or in the middle of them (example 3). Here are some guidelines for capitalization and punctuation.

GUIDELINES FOR CAPITALIZATION AND PUNCTUATION

Capitalize the first letter in a complete sentence that is being quoted, even if it comes after some identifying words (example 2).
Do not capitalize the first letter in a quotation if it is not the first word in a complete sentence (but in example 3).
If it is a complete sentence and it is clear who the speaker is, a quotation can stand on its own (second sentence in example 4).
Identifying words must be attached to a quotation; they cannot be a sentence on their own.
Use commas to separate any identifying words from quoted words in the same sentence.
Always put quotation marks after commas and periods. Put quotation marks after question marks and exclamation points if they are part of the quoted sentence.
If a question mark or exclamation point is part of your own sentence, put it after the quotation mark.

SETTING OFF A QUOTATION WITHIN ANOTHER QUOTATION

Sometimes, when you quote someone directly, part of what that person said quotes words that someone else said or wrote. Put single quotation marks (‘ ’) around the quotation within a quotation so that readers understand who said what.

Terry told his instructor, “I am sorry I missed the exam, but that is not a reason to fail me for the term. Our student handbook says, ‘Students must be given the opportunity to make up work missed for legitimate reasons,’ and I have a good reason.”

NO QUOTATION MARKS FOR INDIRECT QUOTATIONS

When you report what someone said or wrote but do not use the person’s exact words, you are writing an indirect quotation. Do not use quotation marks for indirect quotations. Indirect quotations often begin with the word that.

INDIRECT QUOTATION:	The police told us to move along.
DIRECT QUOTATION:	“Move along,” directed the police.

QUOTATION MARKS FOR CERTAIN TITLES

When you refer to a short work such as a magazine or newspaper article, a chapter in a book, a short story, an essay, a song, or a poem, put quotation marks around the title of the work.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE	“Volunteers Honored for Service”
SHORT STORY	“The Awakening”
ESSAY	“Why Are We So Angry?”

Usually, titles of longer works, such as novels, books, magazines, newspapers, movies, television programs, and CDs, are italicized. The titles of sacred books such as the Bible or the Qu’ran are neither underlined nor surrounded by quotation marks.

BOOK	The Good Earth
NEWSPAPER	Washington Post [Do not italicize or capitalize the word the before the name of a newspaper or magazine, even if it is part of the title: I saw that article in the New York Times. But do capitalize The when it is the first word in titles of books, movies, and other sources.]

If you are writing a paper with many outside sources, your instructor will probably refer you to a particular system of citing sources. Follow that system’s guidelines when you use titles in your paper.

NOTE: Do not enclose the title of a paragraph or an essay that you have written in quotation marks when it appears at the beginning of your paper. Do not italicize it either.