Understanding Quotation Marks in American English

Why is it important for transcriptionists to have excellent punctuation skills?

• To enhance their vocabulary

• To write creative stories

• To improve their speaking skills

• To ensure accurate transcription

What is the primary use of double quotation marks?

• To separate paragraphs

• To list items

• To indicate a direct word-for-word quotation

• To highlight important words

When should the first word in a complete quotation be capitalized?

• Never

• Only if it is a proper noun

• Always, regardless of the word

• Only if it starts a sentence

How should you handle capitalization in a quotation that is interrupted mid-sentence?

• Never capitalize any part of the quotation

• Always capitalize the second part

• Do not capitalize the second part unless it starts with a proper noun

• Capitalize the second part of the quotation

Where should commas be placed when introducing a direct quotation?

• After the quotation marks

• Inside the quotation marks

• Outside the quotation marks

• Before the quotation marks

In American English, where do commas and periods typically go in relation to quotation marks?

• After the quotation marks

• Before the quotation marks

• Inside the quotation marks

• Outside the quotation marks

When should a question mark be placed inside the quotation marks?

• When the question is rhetorical

• When the sentence ends with a question

• When the quoted material is a question

• When the entire sentence is a question

How should you punctuate a sentence where the entire sentence is a question, but the quoted material is not?

• Place the question mark inside the quotation marks

• Use a period instead

• Place the question mark outside the quotation marks

• Do not use a question mark

What is the purpose of using single quotation marks?

• To emphasize a word

• To list items

• To quote a quote within a quote

• To indicate a title

In what scenario is it unlikely to encounter single quotation marks?

• In a novel

• In a newspaper article

• In a dialogue

• In a typical transcription job