Questions about quotations, a group of words taken from a text or speech and repeated by someone other than the original author or speaker.
10
votes
3answers
1k views
Quoting a question at the end of a sentence which is itself a question
If my sentence is a question and ends with a quote of a question, where exactly do I put a question mark?
Did she ask, "Is it raining"?
Did she ask, "Is it raining?"?
Did she ask, "Is it ...
2
votes
3answers
329 views
Should one stick to American style of placing punctuation marks within quotes if one uses the American spelling?
According to Wikipedia, there are two ways to use punctation marks when it comes to quoting. Basically, we have the British style, where punctation marks that don't come from the quoted material "is ...
12
votes
2answers
443 views
The usage of “sic” in writing
I have seen many articles that use quotes from players like:
We gonna [sic] be working hard over the summer cause we gotta [sic] get better.
What is sic? Where does it come from?
7
votes
1answer
435 views
What is the best way to mention a word: italics, quotes, or single-quotes (apostrophes)?
If I want to mention the word "furlong", for example, should I use furlong, "furlong", or 'furlong'? Also, am I correct in putting the punctuation outside the quotes?
0
votes
2answers
1k views
Does a comma have to be used before a quotation?
If before the quote the word "saying" or "said" is used, does a comma always have to be used before it? When does a comma not have to be used?
301
votes
18answers
19k views
How do you quote a passage that has used '[sic]' mistakenly?
The usage of '[sic]' is well defined for quoting a passage that you believe has an error in it: nearest to the mistake you place '[sic]' within the quotes. For example, suppose I write a letter from I ...
12
votes
5answers
4k views
Appropriate dash to use when attributing a quotation?
If I’m citing a poem or quotation, what kind of dash precedes the author’s name? Example:
This Business of Printing; which I am heartily tired of, and repent I e’er attempted. . . .
...
8
votes
2answers
835 views
Comma placement when using quotes that end with a question mark [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How should I punctuate around quotes?
I've been writing a letter to an editor, and one line of my response reads:
In your article "What Makes Free Will Free?" you ...
1
vote
2answers
444 views
What's the rule for punctuating quoted words or phrases?
Please bear with me as I am not an English expert, only an aspiring amateur!
I'm mostly aware of the rules regarding punctuation and quotes. Something like the following sentence makes sense to me:
...
12
votes
5answers
963 views
How to punctuate a quoted question within a question?
How would I punctuate the bold portion?
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Wait," I replied, "did you just ask me Who are you?"
I would use the following:
"Wait," I replied, "did you just ask ...
5
votes
3answers
321 views
What can I do instead of [sic]?
I have a quote that has a misplaced "to":
... they will put you to back to sleep ...
It seems like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I can either:
Just delete the mistaken "to" (then I ...
4
votes
1answer
2k views
Use quotation marks or italics for written quotes?
In narrative writing, should I use quotation marks or italics when I quote something someone wrote?
I would go with italics to differentiate written from spoken quotes:
“I know who the killer ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the difference between “I can't get any sleep” and “I can/'t get no sleep”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What does “I Can't Get No Satisfaction” mean?
I'd like to know the difference between these sentences:
I can't get any sleep.
I can get no sleep.
...
15
votes
3answers
3k views
Should I fix typos/grammatical errors in quotation?
When writing papers, I meet typos/grammatical errors in references now and then. Should I correct them, or leave them as they are?
12
votes
2answers
946 views
Any reference on the usage of a backtick and single quotation mark like `this'?
Why do I sometimes see a backtick with a single quote `like this'? What's the name of this usage? What are some good references so I can find more information by myself?
5
votes
5answers
227 views
Does quoting in British or American English depend on the quoted or the audience?
If you are quoting/documenting the conversation between two people — one is British and one American — do you use a consistent approach directed towards your intended audience or switch to ...
5
votes
1answer
228 views
Is it acceptable to use 'that' followed by a direct quote?
New York Times:
Even before President Obama declared this month that “I have Israel’s
back” in its escalating confrontation with Iran, pro-Israel figures
like the evangelical Christian leader ...
4
votes
2answers
236 views
Cleaning up / formatting verbatim quotations
Frequently, I have situations where I am in need of the ability to quote an individual who has written something verbatim that has some type of grammatical error. Although I would like to write it ...
3
votes
2answers
374 views
Plurals and possessives of quoted words [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Marking plural of code words
Pluralizing Keywords in Programming Languages
After asking a number of questions on StackOverflow, I keep running into some of the same ...
2
votes
2answers
275 views
What do you do when you end the first part of a compound sentence with a quote? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How should I punctuate around quotes?
For example, if I want to show someone's response in the same sentence, what would I do?
Would the comma from the end of the quote ...
2
votes
1answer
166 views
Should there be a comma in “The heading reads, 'a chart heading.'”?
I have a sentence along the lines of
The heading reads, "a chart heading."
The comma seems a bit awkward to me, but I cannot seem to find any explicit guidance in the Chicago Manual of Style on ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
Use quotation marks for internal monologue?
In a similar vein to my previous question on styling written quotes, should I use quotation marks for interior monologue in narrative writing?
It is common to use italics to denote thoughts:
This ...
1
vote
1answer
186 views
Reading of the article “an” preceding quotations
Speakers often add “quote” or “quote, unquote” before quotations. But when a quotation is preceded by the article “an”, how should that article be pronounced?
As I understand, the choice between “a” ...
1
vote
1answer
177 views
Quotes and Punctuation [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it ever acceptable for a period to come after a quote at the end of a sentence?
How should I punctuate around quotes?
I graduated with an English Major from Radford ...
1
vote
2answers
452 views
Usage of comma before quotes [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Does a comma have to be used before a quotation?
Please let me know which of the two examples below are correct:
Example a: And he said "where are my chips?"
Example ...
