Quotation Marks

Why Use Them?

1. Quotation marks are used to show someone’s exact words

2. Quotation marks may also be used to enclose titles of small works: magazine articles, chapters of a book, short stories, TV episodes, essays, poems, and songs

Remember:

Punctuation THEN

Quotation

Place a comma AFTER the explanatory words (i.e. “ he asked”, “she said”), but BEFORE the introductory quotation marks

Robin Williams once asked, “Why do they call it rush hour when nothing moves?”

Place the punctuation mark at the end of the person’s last word BEFORE the closing quotation mark:

Erma Bombeck gave good advice when she said, “Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died.”

Punctuation THEN

Quotation

“In the school I went to,” said Rodney Dangerfield, “they asked a kid to prove the law of gravity and he threw the teacher out the window.”

Beginning of a Quote, Beginning of a Sentence

The first word of a quote is always capitalized when it is the beginning of a sentence: After quickly dialing, Homer Simpson shouted, “Operator, give me the number for 911!”

Don’t capitalize the second part if it is a continuation of the sentence: “Operator,” Homer Simpson shouted, “give me the number for 911!”

Quote Within a QuoteUse single quotation marks when you write a quote within a quote:

My mother said, “I think Benjamin Franklin was wise when he said, ‘Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, and half shut afterwards.’ ”

PunctuationTHEN

Quotation

EXCEPT…

If the overall sentence that includes a quotation is a question or exclamation, then you need to put the question mark or exclamation point OUTSIDE the quotation marks:

Have you ever heard of the song “I’ve Been Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart”?

Hint: Look for question words at the beginning (who, what, when, etc.)

Quotation Marks for TitlesShort Stories: “The Scarlet Ibis”

Magazine Article: “How to Get a Boyfriend”

Poems: “The Road Not Taken”

Also: TV episodes, essays, songs, chapters in a book

Practice: Add quotation marks and correct capitalization

Harry said only a fool would argue with a skunk.

Harry said only a fool would argue with a skunk.

Harry said, “Only a fool would argue with a skunk.”

Never stand between a dog and the hydrant said John.

Never stand between a dog and the hydrant said John.

“Never stand between a dog and the hydrant,” said John.

A line said Paul is a dot that went for a walk.

A line said Paul is a dot that went for a walk.

“A line,” said Paul, “is a dot that went for a walk.”

Does anyone like the teacher that says today class, let’s copy the dictionary?

Does anyone like the teacher that says today class, let’s copy the dictionary?

Does anyone like the teacher that says, “Today class, let’s copy the dictionary”?

Jane said my dad said I’m not sleeping. I’m just looking at the inside of my eyelids.

Jane said my dad said I’m not sleeping. I’m just looking at the inside of my eyelids.

Jane said, “My dad said, ‘I’m not sleeping. I’m just looking at the inside of my eyelids.’”