Questions tagged [quotation-marks]
Punctuation used to delimit quotes within a sentence.
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1answer
35 views
Are quotes needed when naming an educational course?
Do I need quotation marks when naming an educational discipline?
For example:
An analysis of the educational discipline "English Language for Professional Purposes" has been conducted.
Or is it ...
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1answer
38 views
Placement of period in quotation or definition at end of sentence (American rule)
The American rule for sentences ending in a quotation is that the period should be inside the closing quotation mark. The rule for parentheticals at the end of a sentence is that, when the ...
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0answers
18 views
Usage of quotation marks in corrections/suggestions
If I'm editing someone else's essay, leaving comments for them to read, and I want to make a comment like:
Consider changing this phrase to: "boundless in its capacity to cause harm." It may read ...
3
votes
1answer
122 views
Use of em dash to separate different speakers in a quotation(s)
Suppose there are three characters, each saying something different outside of a room and you are listening to them from inside of the room. What is the correct way to punctuate the following using em ...
0
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1answer
41 views
Quotation marks or italics for foreign word…or both in certain context?
When a foreign word is used for the first time in text, it is generally italicized (or put in quotation quotes as an alternative). Is it ever correct to use both italics and quotation marks when the ...
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0answers
45 views
Correct punctation when two quotations are used in the same sentence (British usage)
Is the following sentence correctly punctuated for British English usage:
I said, 'It's important to learn grammar', and he said, 'I promise I will'.
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2answers
54 views
Capitalization/Proper use of apostrophe for omitted letters at start of quotation
Suppose I have a character who can’t pronounce the letter b, and I have him start a sentence with “bananas” in dialogue.
Is this correct, using a single quotation mark in front of a pointing away ...
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1answer
54 views
What does the quoted section in someone’s name mean?
As in the title, what does a quoted section in a name mean? Names like John “James” Doe (not someone’s name)
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0answers
51 views
What is the correct use of hyphens and capitals in “Big Brother style pop competition”? [duplicate]
Not sure it technically should have any, but a Big Brother style pop competition feels like quite a mouthful as it is so I’m wondering whether hyphens might help.
Also want to check the ...
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1answer
49 views
How best to punctuate a list of quoted questions?
This may not show up in common usage, but I write assessment reports and will often have to document the patient has several remaining questions for their physician. Since the report will be kept ...
0
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1answer
190 views
Use of quotation marks after 'it's called X' and similar?
I've been looking at the Oxford Dictionary's page on inverted commas, and see that they use this example:
He called this phenomenon "the memory of water."
This seems like it would work with or ...
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1answer
150 views
Quotes, italics, parentheses, and/or regular for translations [closed]
Okay Stack Exchange, here's the big ask:
What do you all recommend? My manager wants to know if this is stylistically appropriate. No specific manual we're looking at here. Just what would you guys ...
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1answer
47 views
Best way to express the purpose of quotes (scare quotes)
Patients have faced skepticism for years over whether CFS is a "real" disease.
In the sentence above, how would you express the purpose of the quotes around "real"? I'm aware that scare quotes are ...
1
vote
1answer
81 views
Quotes, Punctuation, and Naming [duplicate]
When using quotes to notate a name or title of something, does punctuation go inside or outside the quote?
For example:
This approach is at the center of Harvard's research on "Learning in Action", ...
0
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2answers
262 views
How do you quote a quotation that itself has mismatched quotes?
Suppose that Eve said (in spoken English)
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, unquote. Also isn't Eve such a
great person? Like my mom always said quote Eve is the best person ever,
much ...
0
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1answer
30 views
general punctuation question
When life gives you lemons you say, "blah blah."
That is how i wrote the sentence. However, I am not sure about the period before the quotation mark.
the other question I have is that I am also not ...
0
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1answer
296 views
Use of italics and BrE single quotation marks
I'd like to know when to use italics and when to use single quotation marks should be used. For example:
The word he was looking for was ‘abjuration’.
vs
The word he was looking for was ...
2
votes
0answers
101 views
Why do we structure dialogue/direct speech the way that we do?
I hate how we format dialogue. I believe convention has gotten too heavy and we need to think a little more about logic. That being said, my question, to be more specific, is asking about labels for ...
1
vote
1answer
229 views
I'm using three questions in a list inside quotation marks, would I separate with a comma, semicolon, or nothing? Are the question marks even needed? [duplicate]
A sentence with a list of questions inside quotation marks, how do I separate them? I can't find a solid answer anywhere.
Option 1:
In simple terms, Naikan is based on three questions: “What have I ...
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0answers
24 views
Can a punctuation mark at the end of a quote be changed to a period to end a sentence?
For example, say I wanted to quote the following line of poetry: "To cloke your weariness;"
The line ends in a semicolon. However, what would I do if I wanted to quote it at the end of a sentence? ...
2
votes
1answer
52 views
If a speaker clearly emphasizes a word or a term, should it be written down in quotation marks?
If a speaker clearly emphasizes a word or a term, should it be written down in quotation marks?
e.g. Everyone's so intimidated by "big data."
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1answer
47 views
Does it need quotation marks on abstract nouns
I know for sure it needs quotation marks on verbs do, love and etc, in following sentence:
Human related actions like "do", "love", "hate", "sacrifice", and so on.
Because it would not be right ...
0
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1answer
62 views
Does it need a quotation mark on a noun?
I'd like to know whether it needs quotation marks on weight and length in a sentence like "each physical quantity like weight, length, and so on, can be described by a single number.", such as "each ...
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2answers
310 views
Use of " and ' in multi-paragraph quotes
I was taught that I should use " at the start of a quote and if it carries on in subsequent paragraphs, I should put ' at the end of the first paragraph, then start the second paragraph with ' and ...
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1answer
49 views
Should indefinite articles be included in quotation-marks?
E.g.
I am writing about a book and I am quoting the author on how he reacted on Nov 8.
Is
He hugged an "FT columnist, a fellow bruised, battered and besieged liberal-minded metrosexual, and ...
0
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1answer
120 views
Should I capitalize after a question?
Should this sentence be:
"What do I have to do with it?" He asked.
or
"What do I have to do with it?" he asked.
Can it be both?
2
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1answer
74 views
quotation mark to indicate possession after quotation marks indicating the title of a short story
Would it be wrong to write, for example:
"Slight Rebellion Off Madison" 's characters, plot, and themes develop in the same way as chapter 17 of Catcher in the Rye, only its point of view is ...
2
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1answer
85 views
In the case of multiple successive quotes, does punctuation go inside or outside quotes?
She told me "take me out," "let's travel together," and "I love ice cream."
or
She told me "take me out", "let's travel together", and "I love ice cream".
I always assumed that commas go inside ...
0
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1answer
258 views
Quotation marks punctuation
My understanding is that rules governing punctuation and quotation marks are partly governed by what country you're writing in. For example, in American English, we always place periods inside ...
0
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1answer
34 views
How to handle a single quote STARTING a quotation?
I've done some research, both on this SE and off, but I can't find an answer to my unique problem. So I apologize in advance if this is a duplicate and I just missed something.
I'm dealing with a ...
2
votes
1answer
381 views
Why are there multiple quotation marks in a long quote?
I came across an issue when reading Dr Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
(Image via Daily Nutmeg)
And the more the Grinch thought of this Who-Christmas-Sing,
The more the Grinch thought, "...
0
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1answer
541 views
Ending a sentence then beginning a sentence with the same word. Quotation marks?
If you end a sentence, then begin the next sentence with the same word, but you wish to write more about that word in the next sentence, do you need to put that word in quotation marks in the next ...
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4answers
3k views
Is there punctuation for words treated as words?
From today's NY Times:
Mr. Trump’s critics reach for words like treason and traitor because they, like others, are searching for an explanation for actions that are so different from those of his ...
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1answer
108 views
How do I double quotation marks? [duplicate]
Suppose I want to quote a text that begin with a word embedded within quotation marks. Let the text e.g. be: "House" is a four letter word. Should my quotation of it be ""House" is a four letter word."...
0
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1answer
45 views
Quotation marks around a new word when I keep using the word?
I'm writing a technical thesis and I need to explain the meaning of a lot of words. However I'm not a native English speaker.
The so-called "blah" is a thing that does this and that.
Blah was an ...
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0answers
771 views
Proper Usage of Nicknames?
I’m already aware that nicknames are usually incorporated into the larger name between the first and last names — John “Jack” Doe, for example — and that this is essentially standard usage.
When you ...
2
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1answer
473 views
“ ‘A cynic’ is what an idealist calls a realist.” vs. “A cynic is what an idealist calls a realist.”
The first sentence is unambiguous. Is it correct or incorrect to interpret the second sentence the same way as the first? Put another way, does the structure of the second sentence allow for a ...
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2answers
3k views
Proverb: “A new broom sweeps clean”
When this quote is used in a past tense passage, do we need to use past tense like
"A new broom swept clean" ?
Or can it stay as "A new broom sweeps clean"? In this case, do we want to use open ...
2
votes
1answer
6k views
Quotation marks for nicknames
E.g. "I get called Hitler in school." or "I get called 'Hitler' in school."?
Would quotation marks be needed for 'Hitler'?
What if it was an uncommon or nonsensical word like 'A123' or 'Gaylord'. ...
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1answer
159 views
Mention vs use of a word
In some cases it's not intuitive whether a word is mentioned or used, so it's difficult determining whether to write the word as normal or to use italics / quotation marks.
Two examples:
When you ...
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2answers
4k views
How to properly list quotes in a sentence
For a marketing class, I am listing three different slogans a company has. I have rewritten this a few times and I can't seem to get it to look correct.
My question is should I make it one big quote ...
1
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1answer
53 views
A quote within a quote uses single quotes. What about within that? And deeper? [duplicate]
Replacing the unknown quote marks with underscores, let’s say we’re trying to write this:
He responds, “Joe said ‘Mark said _I’m not coming._’”
One option is to alternate: He responds, “Joe said ‘...
0
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2answers
853 views
Using the Chicago Manual of Style, do colons go inside or outside quotes?
I have the following sentence:
The program identifies particular “targets” and “identifiers:” the “targets” are people who are suspected of committing a crime.
Does the colon go inside the quotes ...
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0answers
105 views
Repeated use of quotes on a term
Often I want to establish that I am using a term "loosely", and so I will use quotes ("scare quotes"?) to indicate this.
Sometimes, though, I wonder if I need to continue this pattern with that term, ...
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0answers
1k views
Punctuation after titles in quotation marks?
I’m working on a book that cites the titles of many short poems, customarily set inside quotation marks. The quotation marks serve to identify the poem as a single entity rather than to indicate any ...
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1answer
48 views
Is it okay to drop quotation marks on second reference?
Is it okay to drop quotation marks on the second reference of an unusual term? Here’s a sentence with the term “greenfield” in it, which is not a common term. A few paragraphs later, the writer uses ...
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3answers
124 views
Should quotation marks be used where a quote has been deliberately changed to mean something slightly different?
I'm writing a blog post where I present a direct quote, then present a quote slightly altered to deliberately change what the initial quote means. I am presenting the slightly altered quote as an ...
1
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1answer
12k views
Do I add quotes around my thoughts?
He staggered in, late as usual, his hair this way and his collar the other. His socks were as mismatched as were his principles. I thought to myself, here comes yet another disastrous sales meeting.
...
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3answers
130 views
Quotation marks and types of dialogue
I'm editing the autobiography of a German-American woman who grew up during Hitler's reign. There are several instances where she uses quotation marks in a way that I'm not sure is correct.
1.
Life ...
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1answer
260 views
Specific punctuation, AmE vs BrE [duplicate]
I'm aware of most differences in punctuation usage between American English and British English. However, I came across something conflicting or erroneous when I was reading Oxford English Grammar, ...
