10 basic rules for QUOTATION MARK usage
1. Use a set of quotation marks to enclose each direct quotation included in your writing.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen, owners of a 300-acre farm, said, “We refuse to use that pesticide because it might pollute the nearby wells.”
2. Use a capital letter with the first word of a direct quotation of a whole sentence. Do not use a capital letter with the first word of a direct quotation of part of a sentence.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen stated that they “refuse to use that pesticide” because of possible water pollution.
3. If the quotation is interrupted and then continues in your sentence, do not capitalize the second part of the quotation.
“He likes to talk about football,” she said, “especially when the Super Bowl is coming up.”
4. Commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks.
I know you are fond of the story “Children of the Corn,” but is it an appropriate subject for your essay?
“At last,” said the old woman, “I can say I am truly happy.”
5. Semicolons and colons always go outside the quotation marks.
She never liked the poem “Dover Beach”; in fact, it was her least favorite piece of Victorian literature.
He clearly states his opinion in the article “Of Human Bondage”: he believes that television has enslaved and diminished an entire generation.
6. Question marks, exclamation points, and dashes go inside quotation marks when they are part of the quotation, and outside when they are not.
Where is your copy of “The Raven”?
“How cold is it outside?” my mother asked.
7. Place quotation marks around the titles of short stories.
I read the story “White Knight at the Battlefield” to him already.
8. Place quotation marks around titles of poems.
Your poem “The Wave” made me cries.
9. Place quotation marks around titles of songs, articles, and chapters.
My favorite song is “The Yellow Submarine.”
That article “Why You Should Bring Your Own Lunch” was about unhealthy lunches.
The chapter “The Encounter with the Teacher” was quite funny.
10. Use single quotation marks (only one quotation mark) around a quote that is in another quote.
I said, “Mrs. Redwood, the article ‘Save the Environment’ was very interesting to read.”
These sentences can be given to students to help them practice applying quotation marks.
John said, That's my coat.
Jack said, I have a coat like yours.
Is the pizza here? asked Hillary.
I love extra cheese, said Jamie.
Grandmother asked, Did you plant beans, peppers, and melons in your garden?
No, I only planted beans and melons, answered Ashley.
William exclaimed, I can't believe we're finally here!
This beach, said Dad, is more beautiful than ever.
The lost scouts screamed, How will we ever get out of here?
Help! shouted the scoutmaster. We can't find our way out of this cave!
Mary is trying hard in school this semester, her father said.
No, the taxi driver said curtly, I cannot get you to the airport in fifteen minutes.
I believe, Jack remarked, that the best time of year to visit Europe is in the spring. At least that's what I read in a book entitled Guide to Europe.
My French professor told me that my accent is abominable.
She asked, Is Time a magazine you read regularly?
Flannery O'Connor probably got the title of one of her stories from the words of the old popular song, A Good Man Is Hard to Find.
When did Roosevelt say, We have nothing to fear but fear itself?
It seems to me that hip and cool are words that are going out of style.
Yesterday, John said, This afternoon I'll bring back your book Conflict in the Middle East; however, he did not return it.
Can you believe, Dot asked me, that it has been almost five years since we've seen each other?
A Perfect Day for Bananafish is, I believe, J. D. Salinger's best short story.
Certainly, Mr. Martin said, I shall explain the whole situation to him. I know that he will understand.
