How to Use Correct Punctuation for Quotation Marks

When you use correct punctuation for quotation marks, your writing is seamless.

Incorrect use of any rules of grammar, whether it's spelling, word choice, or punctuation distracts from what you are trying to communicate.

Learn the right way to use quotation marks and your readers can concentrate on what you're saying rather than on how you write it.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Gather the writing that you think may need to have quotation marks. Read it several times to be sure to have the full meaning.

2. Look for places in the writing where someone is quoted word for word. This is called a direct quote.
   
   Use double quotation marks for direct quotes. Direct quotes are words that someone has spoken or written word for word with no changes made. The quotation marks indicate this is not your writing but is the writing of someone else. For example:
   
   Mark said, "I will work on Saturday if I can have Monday off."

3. Scan the writing for indirect quotes. An indirect quote is information that has been rewritten or rephrased from the original writing.
   
   Do not use quotation marks when the writing indicates an indirect quote. An indirect quote is paraphrasing of a direct quote. For example:
   
   Direct quote: "I am so hungry, I could eat this entire buffet," Mary said.
   
   Indirect quote: Mary was as hungry as a horse.

4. Review the writing for any names of works of fiction, poems, or other titles.
   
   Use double quotation marks around names of poems, fiction, or other titles. For example:
   
   I read "Resume" by Dorothy Parker and loved its callousness and brevity.

5. Check the writing for quotations within another quotation. When someone says something word for word, this is a quotation. When they also refer to a book title, for instance, within that same quotation, the book title needs to be indicated with quotes. Use single quotations within the double quotations. For example:
   
   "Class was about to start but I had to finish reading 'The Catcher in the Rye' first," Ryan said.

6. Take a quiz about using quotation marks. Refresh your skills and see how you're doing by taking this test. See the Resources section below for a good review of how to use correct punctuation for quotation marks.

7. Check the wri

Tips & Warnings

• Punctuation nearly always falls inside the quotation marks, such as: "He was in a hurry," she said.
• When punctuation falls outside of quotation marks, the period or question mark or exclamation point refers to the entire sentence, not just the information in quotes, such as, Phil loved to play "Monopoly".

Resources

• Quiz on Using Quotation Marks

[zapped]

on 12/22/2009 Love this article, more, more, more please

[susanhorton72]

on 10/13/2009 Great article with solid information on quotations! :)

[FrazzledNanny]

on 8/25/2009 This article on punctuation will be very helpful as I homeschool my daughter. 5*

[cdclocks]

on 8/16/2009 "When punctuation falls outside of quotation marks, the period or question mark or exclamation point refers to the entire sentence, not just the information in quotes, such as, Phil loved to play 'Monopoly'." ....that's what I couldn't remember. Thanks!!!

[jamaclassics]

on 8/13/2009 "Your articles are always so helpful," jama said.