Using Quotation Marks Why are quotation marks important

Using Quotation Marks Why are quotation marks important? Direct quotations Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations within quotations Quotation marks for titles Review A Review B

Why are quotation marks important? In everyday conversation, it’s easy to tell who said what. Do you have a favorite writer? I really like Edgar Allan Poe.

Why are quotation marks important? In writing, the only way we can show exactly who is speaking, and when, is by the use of quotation marks. “Do you have a favorite writer? ” Jaime asked. “ I really like Edgar Allan Poe, ”said Maria. [End of Section]

Direct quotations Use quotation marks to enclose a direct quotation—a person’s exact words. Rita said, “This car is making a strange noise. ” “Maybe we should pull over, ” suggested Amy.

Direct quotations When an interrupting expression divides a direct quotation into two parts, place quotation marks around both parts of the quoted statement. “I want to sit here, ” Anna said, “not over there. ” One quoted sentence with an interrupting expression “Let’s compromise, ” said Sylvia. “We’ll sit in one of the middle rows. ” New quoted sentence following the interrupting expression

Direct quotations A direct quotation can be set off from the rest of a sentence by a comma, a question mark, or an exclamation point, but not by a period. Comma “Your Julius Caesar project is due on the Ides of March, ” Mr. Chen announced. Question mark “On what date does the Ides of March fall? ” Tony asked. Exclamation point “That’s easy!” Dorothy exclaimed. “It’s March 15!”

Direct quotations Place commas and periods inside the closing quotation marks. “I haven’t seen the movie yet, ” remarked Juan, “but I’ve heard it’s excellent. ”

Direct quotations Place semicolons and colons outside the closing quotation marks. The Greek philosopher Socrates once said, “As for me, all I know is that I know nothing”; this is one reason people consider him a wise man. The following students have been named “most likely to succeed”: Corey Baxter and Sally Ling.

Direct quotations Place question marks and exclamation points inside the closing quotation marks if the quotation itself is a question or an exclamation. “Is it cold in here? ” the server asked. The quoted sentence is a question. “Yes!” I answered. “Please turn down the air conditioner!” Both direct quotations are exclamations.

Direct quotations If the quotation itself is not a question or an exclamation, place the question mark or exclamation point outside the quotation marks. Why did you say to her, “It doesn’t matter”? The quoted part is not a question, but the whole sentence is. It’s not an insult to be called a “bookworm”! The quoted part is not an exclamation, but the whole sentence is.

Direct quotations On Your Own Add quotation marks where they are needed in the following sentences. 1. We should visit some castles while we are in England, Mom suggested. 2. 2. Our guide said, Warwick Castle is one of the most beautiful. 3. 3. Jason asked, Are any of the castles haunted? 4. 4. No, said Mom, but we’ll stay close together. 5. 5. Did Jason say, I like the collection of suits of armor best? [End of Section]

Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations within quotations When you write dialogue (conversation), begin a new paragraph every time the speaker changes. “Do you want to go to the park today? ” Mel asked. “Sure, ” said Sergio. “May I bring my dog, Rufus? He “Inuse about thirty minutes, ” Mel answered. could some exercise. ” “Sounds good to me. Meet me back here in about half an hour. ”

Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations within quotations For a quoted passage with several paragraphs, put quotation marks at the beginning of each paragraph and at the end of the last paragraph. “Now, this car is one of our hottest sellers. It has bucket seats, a built-in DVD player, and alloy wheels. “It’s also one of the safest cars on the road because of its heavy suspension and antilock brake system. It gets good gas mileage, too. “All in all, I think this would be the perfect car for you. ”

Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations within quotations Use single quotation marks to enclose a quotation within a quotation. Ron said, “My parrot can say, ‘I’m a pretty bird. ’ Do you want to hear it? ” Helena told me, “It was Ron who said, ‘Parrots make great pets. ’”

Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations within quotations On Your Own Correct the following passage by adding quotation marks and single quotation marks where needed. Also show where each new paragraph should begin. I can’t wait for our camping trip! Alicia exclaimed. It’s going to be so much fun. Don’t forget, responded her brother Brian, Dad said that we have to help make a list and pack all the essentials. I know, said Alicia, and wasn’t it Mom who said, Make sure you’re prepared or you can’t go along? [End of Section]

Quotation marks for titles Use quotation marks to enclose titles of short works such as short stories, poems, essays, articles, songs, and chapters and other parts of books and periodicals. Poem “Fire and Ice” Essay “Charley in Yellowstone” Short story “The Pit and the Pendulum”

Quotation marks for titles On Your Own Correct each sentence by adding quotation marks where needed. 1. Mr. Guerra explained that the story Luke Baldwin’s Vow deals with conflicts in values. 2. Kim’s report, which she titled The Wit of Oscar Wilde, includes quotations from the short story The Happy Prince. 3. I think Words to Live By would be an excellent title for our song. 4. Next, read the chapter titled Talk of the Town. [End of Section]

Review A Add quotation marks and single quotation marks where they are needed in the following sentences. 1. Ms. Loudon said, I enjoyed your poem. 2. I read Kurt Vonnegut’s short story Harrison Bergeron last week. 3. Maybe, Max said, I’ll check out this grand opening. 4. Have you read Fran Lebowitz’s essay Tips for Teens? 5. I think Teresa really meant it when she yelled, Stay out! said Julia. [End of Section]

Review B Correct the following passage by adding quotation marks where needed. Also show where each new paragraph should begin. Before our field trip begins, continued Mrs. Garcia, be sure you have a notebook and pen. Will we need binoculars? asked Melvin. Leave your binoculars at home, answered Mrs. Garcia. Your ears will be more helpful than your eyes on this trip. That’s right! exclaimed Felicia. We’re going to see how many bird calls we can identify. [End of Section]

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