Quotation Marks

Quotation marks are punctuation marks used to indicate the exact words spoken or written by someone.

Use quotation marks to enclose direct speech, quotes, or titles of short works.

Place the punctuation inside the quotation marks if it is part of the quoted material.

Start a new paragraph for each speaker and use quotation marks to indicate their spoken words.

If the quote is a question or exclamation, use a question mark or exclamation point inside the quotation marks.

Use single quotation marks for the inner quote, while the outer quote uses double quotation marks.

"I love reading," said Sarah.

Using quotation marks for indirect speech, such as 'He said that he would come.'

Direct speech quotes the exact words spoken, while indirect speech paraphrases what was said.

If the quote ends with a period, place the period inside the quotation marks.