Jul 18, 2016
- Rule 1
Periods and commas always go inside quotation marks, even inside single quotes.- Examples:
The sign changed from “Walk,” to “Don’t Walk,” to “Walk” again within thirty seconds.
She said, “Hurry up.”
She said, “He said, ‘Hurry up.”’
- Examples:
- Rule 2
The placement of question marks with quotes follows logic. If a question is in quotation marks, the question mark should be placed inside the quotation marks.- Examples:
She asked, “Will you still be my friend?”
Do you agree with the saying, “All’s fair in love and war”?
Here the question is outside the quote.
- Examples:
- NOTE
Only one ending punctuation mark is used with quotation marks. Also, the stronger punctuation mark wins. Therefore, no period after war is used. - Rule 3
When you have a question outside quoted material AND inside quoted material, use only one question mark and place it inside the quotation mark.- Example:
Did she say, “May I go?”
- Example:
- Rule 4
Use single quotation marks for quotes within quotes. Note that the period goes inside all quote marks.- Example:
He said, “Danea said, ‘Do not treat me that way.”’
- Example:
- Rule 5
Use quotation marks to set off a direct quotation only.- Examples:
“When will you be here?” he asked.
He asked when you will be there.
- Examples:
- Rule 6
Do not use quotation marks with quoted material that is more than three lines in length. See Colons, Rule 5, p. 60 for style guidance with longer quotes. - Rule 7
When you are quoting something that has a spelling or grammar mistake or presents material in a confusing way, insert the term sic in italics and enclose it in brackets. Sic means, “This is the way the original material was.”- Example:
She wrote, “I would rather die then [sic] be seen wearing the same outfit as my sister.” - Should be than, not then.
- Example:
© 2020 DrillPal.com