Test Yourself

Quotation Marks

[Harbrace 20] 

Review

• Introduction: Using Quotation Marks 
• Using Other Punctuation with Quotation Marks 

Introduction

Quotation marks are used to: 

1. Set off the exact words of a speaker or writer [Harbrace 20a] 

"Don't go," pleaded her boyfriend. 

The headline read "Twenty-Eight Die in Icy River." 

2. Set off titles of short works -- articles in periodicals, chapter titles, essays, poems, stories, and songs (titles of longer works such as books, movies, and plays are italicized) [Harbrace 20c] 

He whistled "Yankee Doodle" as he walked to the library. 

James Joyce's Dubliners includes both "Araby" and "The Dead," two of his best-known short stories. 

3. Call attention to a particular word or phrase used in a special way [Harbrace 20d] 

What's good about "good-bye"? 

Using Other Punctuation with Quotation Marks [Harbrace 20f]

Follow these guidelines when using other punctuation marks with quotation marks: 

1. A period or comma at the end of a quotation is placed inside the quotation marks. 

The directions said, "Check the schedule on the wall," but no schedule was posted. 

According to Emerson, "Imitation is Suicide." 

2. Commas are used to indicate the speaker or writer when a direct quote is interrupted. 

"Enjoy college," wrote my brother, "but don't forget to study once in a while." 

3. A semicolon or colon (unless part of the quoted material) is placed outside the quotation marks. 

I called out, "Turn the knob"; the rattling continued, but no one opened the door. 

4. A question mark or exclamation mark is placed inside the quotation marks if it is part of the quotation. It is placed outside the quotation marks if it applies to the whole sentence.  

"What was that?" she asked. 

Did she ask, "What is that"? 

5. Use single quotation marks to set off a quotation within a quotation. 

"The boys shouted, 'Get him!' and then tackled the man," testified the witness.