Quotation Marks
Quotation marks ( or ' ') are used to indicate direct speech, titles, and special uses of words. Knowing how to punctuate dialogue correctly is an essential writing skill.
Main uses of quotation marks
1. Direct speech
Quotation marks enclose the exact words a person said. A comma usually separates the reporting clause from the quoted words.
"I'm not ready," she said.
He asked, "Where are you going?"
"We should leave," he said, "before it gets dark."
Rules:
- The first word inside quotation marks is capitalised if it begins a full sentence.
- Commas and full stops go inside the closing quotation mark (UK style: outside, unless part of the quote).
- Question marks and exclamation marks go inside if they belong to the quote.
2. Titles of short works
Use quotation marks for titles of articles, short stories, poems, songs, and TV episodes. Use italics (or underline) for longer works like books and films.
I read an article called "The Future of AI".
Her favourite poem is "The Road Not Taken".
3. Words used in a special sense
He called himself a "genius" â others disagreed.
The "simple" task took three hours.
Single vs. double quotation marks
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| Single marks for speech: 'Hello' | Double marks for speech: "Hello" |
| Double for quote within a quote: 'She said "hello".' | Single for quote within a quote: "She said 'hello'." |
Do not use quotation marks for indirect speech: She said "she was tired" â. Quotation marks are only for exact, direct words. In indirect speech, no quotation marks are needed.
Tip: Be consistent with your style (British or American) throughout a piece of writing. Don't mix single and double quotation marks arbitrarily.