When to Use Quotation Marks | Rules & Examples
Quotation marks are a type of punctuation and have many purposes in English. They are used primarily to:
- Indicate material taken from another source
- Mark dialogue
- Indicate the title of a short work (e.g., a poem or TV episode)
- Show irony or sarcasm
- Discuss words as words
My favorite poem is “From Blossoms” by Li-Young Lee.
This “free” cruise we won will cost an arm and a leg once we pay all the taxes and fees.
Many people roll their eyes at business jargon like “bandwidth” and “deliverable.”
Quotation marks always come in pairs. If there is an opening quotation mark, there must be a closing one. Quotation marks can be either curved/curly (sometimes called “smart”) or straight. If they are curved, opening and closing quotation marks curve in different directions.
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you ensure you’re using quotation marks correctly.
When to use quotation marks
Quotation marks are used for many different reasons in English. The most common uses are described below.
1. To indicate material taken from another source
This is the most common usage and is especially important in academic writing. Any time you are using someone else’s exact words (whether an entire sentence or part of a sentence), you should use quotation marks.
Proper use of quotation marks (as well as in-text citations) can help you avoid plagiarism. The only time quotation marks are not needed for someone else’s words is if a long quotation is set apart as a block quote.
The president claimed that the legislation would be “an utter catastrophe” if passed.
2. To mark dialogue
In both fiction and nonfiction writing, quotation marks are used to indicate speech. Quotation marks signal the beginning and end of one character’s speech. If a character’s words continue for more than one paragraph, the ending quotation mark appears at the end of the final paragraph.
“Shhh … let’s think. Perhaps there’s a weapon in the garage.”
3. To indicate titles of creative works
Some (but not all) titles of creative works are set off with quotation marks. Typically, these are short works (e.g., a poem, short story, or TV episode) that go within a larger container (e.g., an anthology or a TV series title). The larger container is italicized.
If you’re in doubt about whether a work should be in quotation marks or italicized, check your style guide.
My favorite episode of Friends is “The One Where Everybody Finds Out.”
4. To show irony or sarcasm
Sometimes, especially in informal writing, quotation marks are used to show that a term is meant to be interpreted ironically or with sarcasm. (In speech, people often indicate this with air quotes.) This use is sometimes known as “scare quotes” and should be avoided in academic writing.
This “simple” cheesecake recipe took me three hours to make!
5. To discuss words
Sometimes, especially in academic writing, you may want to discuss a word or letter without using its actual meaning in the sentence. Quotation marks can be helpful to indicate this usage.
Academics overuse words like “dichotomy” and “discourse.”
- To set off a nickname from a given name (e.g., Vote Margaret “Maggie” Carpenter for State Representative)
- As a symbol for inches (e.g., He is 6’2” [6 feet, 2 inches])
Punctuation with quotation marks
The placement of punctuation inside or outside of quotation marks depends on whether you are using American or British English and on the type of punctuation.
American English
By default, in American English, punctuation goes inside the closing quotation mark. This is almost always the case for commas and periods. (Though note that if a quotation is immediately followed by a parenthetical citation, the period or comma follows the citation.)
Try to avoid the words “really,” “stuff,” and “literally” in academic writing.
Collins claims that “changing societal expectations have led to more childhood stress” (2022).
Exclamation marks and question marks are treated differently than commas and periods. If they are included in the original quotation, they should go inside the quotation marks. However, if they are not part of the original quotation, they should go outside.
| Punctuation part of original quotation | Punctuation not part of original quotation |
|---|---|
| The judge asked, “Does anyone have a compelling reason they cannot serve on this jury?” | Can you believe she said the play was “a complete waste of time”? |
| “Wow!” Victor shouted, “I can’t believe you got the tickets!” | Yes, the teacher really said the test will be “a piece of cake”! |
British English
In British English, all punctuation typically goes outside of the punctuation marks unless it is part of the original quotation.
Try to avoid the words ‘really’, ‘stuff’, and ‘literally’ in academic writing.
The speaker said, ‘The future of this institution depends on the people we recruit to work here.’ [The quotation is a full sentence, so the period goes inside the quotation marks.]
Single vs double quotation marks
Double quotation marks (“) are required in American English, while single quotation marks (‘) are more frequently used in British English. Double quotation marks can also be used in British English, provided you are consistent throughout a document.
| American English | British English |
|---|---|
|
|
Quotes within quotes
When double quotation marks are used to indicate the main quote, single quotation marks should be used to indicate a quote within a quote (also called a nested quote). The reverse is true when single quotation marks are used for the main quote (i.e., in British English).
| American English | British English |
|---|---|
| Fitzgerald asserts that “the use of the term ‘magpie’ indicates the poet’s negative attitude toward her subject.” | Fitzgerald asserts that ‘the use of the term “magpie” indicates the poet’s negative attitude toward her subject’. |
Frequently asked questions about quotation marks
- Does the comma go inside the quotation marks?
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Yes, commas typically go inside quotation marks in a sentence in American English.
Commas with quotation marks in American English examples Critics said the book was “gripping,” “powerfully written,” and “emotional.”“Don’t go without me,” Brett said.
Note, though, that when there’s an introductory phrase before a quotation, the comma goes before the opening quotation marks.
Brett said, “Don’t go without me.”
In British English, commas typically go outside of quotation marks (and single quotation marks are often used in place of double).
Commas with quotation marks in British English example Critics said the book was ‘gripping’, ‘powerfully written’, and ‘emotional’.‘Don’t go without me’, Brett said.
Use QuillBot’s Grammar Checker to make sure you’re using punctuation with quotation marks correctly.
- How do I make quotation marks in French?
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French uses guillemets (« ») instead of quotation marks (e.g., The sign said: « Allumez vos feux »). Note that there is always a space after the opening guillemet and before the closing guillemet.
To type guillemets, use the following keyboard shortcuts:
Windows Mac Opening guillemet («) Ctrl + Alt + [ Option + \ Closing guillemet (») Ctrl + Alt + ] Option + Shift + \ QuillBot’s Grammar Checker works in multiple languages, so you can make sure all of your writing is free of errors!
- Should I put a period before or after quotation marks?
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Typically, a period goes before the ending quotation marks in American English.
Periods with quotation marks examples (American English) The principal said the teacher was “an exemplar of the profession.”She told me, “If I leave, I’m never coming back.”
However, in British English, the period only goes inside the quotation marks if the quotation itself is a full sentence. Otherwise, it goes outside. Additionally, British English typically uses single quotation marks instead of double.
Periods with quotation marks examples (American English) The principal said the teacher was ‘an exemplar of the profession’.She told me, ‘If I leave, I’m never coming back.’
Try QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to make sure you’re using punctuation correctly.
- When should I use single quotation marks?
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In American English, single quotation marks (‘ ’) are used to indicate quotes within quotes.
Single quotation marks example (American English) Martinez argues that “the president’s use of the phrase ‘mission accomplished’ undermined his credibility.”In British English, single quotation marks are typically used in the ways double quotation marks are in American English. So, quotes within quotes are indicated with double quotation marks.
Single quotation marks examples (British English) Martinez argues that ‘the president’s use of the phrase “mission accomplished” undermined his credibility’.Try not to use the word ‘really’ in academic writing.
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you ensure you’re using quotation marks correctly.
- How do I make quotation marks in Spanish?
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When writing in Spanish, you can use either regular quotation marks (“ ”), known as comillas inglesas, or angular quotation marks (« »), known as comillas angulares or comillas latinas.
You should consult your style guide for which format is preferred and be consistent throughout your document.
To type angular quotation marks, use the following keyboard shortcuts:
Windows Mac Opening angular quotation mark («) Ctrl + Alt + [ Option + \ Closing angular quotation mark (») Ctrl + Alt + ] Option + Shift + \ QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker works in multiple languages to help you write well in any language.
