Quotation Marks — Uses, Punctuation Rules, and Examples

Written by

Daniel Bal

February 13, 2024

Edited by

Courtney Adamo

Fact-checked by

Paul Mazzola

What are quotation marks?

Quotation marks are a form of punctuation (" and ') that can indicate spoken language, identify titles of shorter works, recognize a word as a word, and denote nicknames, offensive terms, and sarcasm.

Quotation marks:

• Indicate spoken language/enclose direct quotations (someone’s exact words)

• Identify titles of shorter works or a work that is part of a larger work, like poems, essays, articles, short stories, chapter titles, song titles, episode titles

• Recognize a word as a word

• Denote nicknames, offensive terms/expressions, and sarcasm (often called scare quotes)

• Set off a quote within a quote through the use of single quotation marks (')

Punctuation inside or outside quotation marks

The placement of punctuation when using quotation marks depends on multiple factors:

• Type of punctuation: periods, question marks, comma, colons, semicolons

• Sentence content: Is the punctuation part of the quoted material?

• Placement of quoted material: beginning, middle, or end?

Periods, commas, question marks, and exclamation points with quotation marks

The general rule in American English is to include a period or comma inside the quoted material. First, introduce the quote with open quotation marks, and then end it with a period or comma and closing quotation marks.

• Period: The teacher said, "Please remove all of the materials on your desk so we can complete the exam."

• Comma: "I can barely stay awake to study," Ainsley remarked, upset that she wanted until the last minute.

There are two exceptions to this rule:

• Exception 1: When the comma comes after an introductory phrase or clause.

• Exception 2: If there is a parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence, the period should be placed after the parentheses of the citation.

The placement of a question mark depends upon the quoted material in the sentence. If the quoted material contains the question, place it inside the last quotation mark. If the question is not part of the quotation, place it outside the last quotation mark.

• Inside: Before heading to the game, Jeremy asked, "How much do the tickets cost?"

• Outside: Do you agree with the statement "I’d rather start work early than stay later"?

Exclamation points adhere to the same rule as question marks:

• Inside: After landing on his head, Simon shrieked, "There's a bee on me!"

• Outside: Simon's friends stressed to him that it was "only a bee"!

Colons and semicolons with quotation marks

When using colons and semicolons, the punctuation typically is placed after the quoted material. The only exception is if the punctuation mark is a part of the directly quoted material.

• Outside (colon): The students coined the three hardest classes as the "tricky trio": analytical geometry, world history, and advanced Latin.

• Outside (semicolon): When reviewing her notes, Delaney focused on the material marked "critical"; she ignored everything else.

• Inside (colon): According to Ms. Smith, "There are three students who tied for the top score: Tim, Jess, and Natalie.”

• Inside (semicolon): The employee thought the pay increase “helped workers around the holidays;” however, it still wasn't enough.

Quotation mark rules & quotation examples

MLA, APA style, and Chicago Manual of Style each have nuanced rules about the use of quotation marks, so be sure to consult the appropriate style guide. However, when using quotation marks, the following general rules apply:

Punctuation

Rule 1: Use double quotation marks (") to set off word-for-word quotations/dialogue or attributions. Do not use quotation marks for indirect quotations.

• Direct quotation: After his brother left for college, Damien told his parents, "I'm going to miss him."

• Indirect quotation: Hannah told me she likes bananas but not grapes.

Rule 2: Use commas to introduce or interrupt direct quotations.

• Introduce: Everly said, "I can't believe I graduate next month."

• Interrupt: "Well, if she isn't home," Miles interjected, "we should probably leave."

Rule 3: Commas and periods typically are placed inside quotations; colons and semicolons are placed outside.

• Period: Before his parents left, they told Wes, "You cannot have any friends over while we are gone."

• Comma: “It has become increasingly difficult for me to focus on the movie," Robin revealed.

• Colon: The teacher identified the "three strongest metals on Earth": tungsten, steel, and chromium.

• Semicolon: Nolan translated the sign, recognizing that it said "exit"; however, he wasn't supposed to leave the building.

Rule 4: Question marks and exclamation marks are placed inside quotation marks if they are part of the quoted material and outside if they are not.

• Question Mark Inside: Later that day, Ella asked, "What time should we arrive?"

• Question Mark Outside: Do you actually think the author wanted to illustrate "the power of love"?

• Exclamation Point Inside: As the snaked slithered closer, Stella screamed, "Please get that thing away from me!"

• Exclamation Point Outside: Xander yelled back at Stella, telling her it "will not bite"!

Capitalization

Rule 1: Capitalize the first word in a complete sentence, even if it starts mid-sentence.

Rule 2: Do not start a quote with a capital letter if it is a continuation of a sentence.

Rule 3: When splitting a quote to add a parenthetical, do not capitalize the second part of the quote.

Single vs. Double Quotation Marks

Rule 1: Use single quotation marks for quotations within quotations.

Rule 2: Use single quotation marks to enclose a quote within an article title or with a title in a quote.

Titles

Rule: Use quotation marks to enclose the titles of short works or those that are part of a larger work, such as poems, short stories, and songs.