Asked by: Nick Ibarra

Quotation marks and other punctuation marks In the United States, the rule of thumb is that commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks, and colons and semicolons (dashes as well) go outside: “There was a storm last night,” Paul said.

What is the purpose of a single quotation mark?

Single quotation marks are used to indicate quotations inside of other quotations. “Jessie said, ‘Goodbye,’” Ben said. This is Ben talking, so his words go in quotation marks. But because we’re quoting Ben quoting someone else, Jessie, we use single quotation marks to indicate the quote within the quote.

Can I use single quotation marks to emphasize a word?

Quotation marks around single words can occasionally be used for emphasis, but only when quoting a word or term someone else used. Usually, this implies that the author doesn’t agree with the use of the term. He said he was “working”; it looked to me like he was procrastinating.

What is the difference between single and double quotation marks?

General Usage Rules

In America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the general rule is that double quotes are used to denote direct speech. Single quotes are used to enclose a quote within a quote, a quote within a headline, or a title within a quote.

What is the difference between single quotation mark and?

If you use single quote marks, you should use double speech marks for a quote within a quote. If you use double quote signs, you should use single quotation signs for a quote within a quote. Examples: “When I say ‘immediately,’ I mean sometime before August,” said the manager.

Should I use single or double quotes?

If you are an American, using quotation marks could hardly be simpler: Use double quotation marks at all times unless quoting something within a quotation, when you use single.