Use of punctuation within quotes with single words or letters?
Asked by: John Lewis
Commas are always placed inside quotation marks, whether the marks are double (“) or single (‘). For most quotes within a quote, where the text inside single quotes falls at the end of the sentence or question, the single and double quotation marks should be after the period or question mark at the end.
Do you put punctuation inside single quotes?
Do commas and periods go inside or outside quotation marks? Commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks in American English; dashes, colons, and semicolons almost always go outside the quotation marks; question marks and exclamation marks sometimes go inside, sometimes stay outside.
What is a string within quotation marks called?
A series of characters enclosed in matching quotation marks is called a literal string. The following examples both contain literal strings. SAY ‘This is a REXX literal string.’
Do you use single or double quotation marks to emphasize a word?
Do not use quotation marks to emphasize a word. Just don’t. It’s wrong. The strength of your words should make any formatting unnecessary, but if you really want to emphasize something, use boldface or italics.
What is it called when you only use part of a quote?
Ellipsis points are used to represent an omission from a direct quotation when it is cited by another writer.
Where do you put punctuation in a quote?
- Commas and colons can be used before the start of a quote. …
- Short punctuation (periods, commas) that is part of the sentence stays inside the quotation marks. …
- All punctuation marks that are part of the original quote stay inside the quotation marks.
When should single quotes be used?
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.
What are single speech marks called?
Quote direct speech in single quote marks. Single quotation marks are also known as ‘quote marks’, ‘quotes’, ‘speech marks’ or ‘inverted commas’. Use them to: show direct speech and the quoted work of other writers.
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 and double quotation marks UK?
‘” British style uses single quotes (‘) for initial quotations, then double quotes (“) for quotations within the initial quotation. ‘Economic systems’, according to Professor White, ‘are an inevitable byproduct of civilization, and are, as John Doe said, “with us whether we want them or not”’.
What does a partial quote look like?
A partial quotation is one that does not constitute a complete thought or is a complete thought has been incorporated into a framing sentence.
How do you use partial quotes in a sentence?
Use an ellipsis in the middle of a quotation to indicate that you have omitted material from the original sentence, which you might do when it includes a digression not germane to your point. However, take care when omitting material to preserve the original meaning of the sentence.
What are single inverted commas?
Single inverted commas (in British English) are mainly used to: mark the beginning and end of direct speech (i.e. a speaker’s words written down exactly as they were spoken). EXAMPLE: ‘What time does the lecture begin?’ she asked.
What is the difference between single inverted comma and double inverted comma?
In American English, the rule is to use double quotation marks: “What time will he arrive?” she asked. In British English, quotation marks are called inverted commas, and the single ones are used more frequently than the double for direct speech. See more information about how to use punctuation in direct speech.
What is the difference between quotation marks and inverted commas?
Inverted commas are punctuation marks used to show where speech or a quotation begins and ends. In American English, inverted commas are called quotation marks. In British English, we use single marks more often than the double marks.
When should punctuation be outside of quotation marks?
Place a question mark or exclamation point within closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the quotation itself. Place the punctuation outside the closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the whole sentence.
Do periods go inside quotations?
Basic Style Guide Rules
MLA: Commas and periods directly following quotations always go inside closing quotation marks. Question marks can vary depending if the question is part of the quote, then the punctuation mark goes inside the quotation marks. If the question is not part of the direct quote, it goes outside.
Do question marks go inside quotation marks examples?
According to AP style, a question mark is inside quotation marks if that part is the question and outside the quotation marks if the whole sentence is a question. (The same rule applies to exclamation marks and dashes. Periods and commas always go inside quotation marks.)
Do you put a full stop inside or outside quotation marks?
The full stop should be placed before the closing quotation mark when the sentence quoted is a full grammatical sentence, i.e a sentence that can stand on its own and is complete.
Does the full stop go inside the quotation marks UK?
Commas and Periods Within Quotation Marks
British English puts commas and periods (full stops) outside the quotation marks unless the quotation is also a complete sentence or the punctuation is part of the quotation.
Do full stops go inside inverted commas?
If another character replies, use another set of inverted commas. “What’s for tea?” she asked. “Delicious ants!” her mum replied. Punctuation, such as question marks, full stops and exclamation marks go inside the speech marks.
Does the full stop go inside the quotation marks in Australia?
In American English, the punctuation mark (i.e., the full stop or comma) always comes before the closing quotation mark. Conversely, in Australian English, the punctuation mark will usually come after the closing quotation mark, unless the quotation is also a complete sentence.
Do you put a space between single and double quotation marks?
Although publishers often insert a thin space between single and double quotation marks to make the text easier to read, writers do not need to be concerned about the spacing between the marks.
Is there a space between a quote within a quote?
The American rule is that periods always go inside all quotation marks. As a courtesy, make sure there is visible space at the start or end of a quotation between adjacent single and double quotation marks. Example: Bobbi said, “I read an interesting article titled ‘A Poor Woman’s Journey. ‘ ”
How do you use single and double quotation marks?
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. It’s different in the greater Anglosphere, where they generally use singles in books and doubles in newspapers.