Punctuation can be a hurting. The 2016 AP Stylebook dedicates eleven dense pages to explaining its intricacies—and the Chicago Manual of Style's punctuation affiliate (yes, chapter) stretches across more than 40 pages.

Quotation marks are a mutual victim of abuse. Confusion abounds, from the use of Dr. Evil–manner "air quotes" around "whatever word" the writer wants to "emphasize" to uncertainty around comma and menstruum placement (inside or outside the quotation marks?).

Leff Communications is here to aid. We offer a handy list of no-nonsense rules that, as with our other posts on grammar and manner, are the perfect passive-aggressive thing to send to a coworker who thinks every word is ironic plenty to warrant quotation marks. These rules apply regardless of the style guide y'all employ (AP, Chicago style, etc.).

Single or double?

In American English language,* we utilise double quotation marks.

"I'm going to bed," she said. (NOT: 'I'm going to bed,' she said.)

Ending commas and periods

In American English,* the menstruation and the comma always get inside the quotation marks, regardless of whether they were part of the original quotation. Let me repeat that for those in the back: put the commas and periods within the quotation marks.

"I really appreciate a well-formed sentence," he announced. "It gives me all the feels."

If the quoted material ends in a question mark or an assertion betoken, don't add a catamenia.
"Timber!" (NOT "Timber!.")

Other ending punctuation

Put other marks (dashes, exclamation points, question marks, and semicolons) within the quotation marks if they apply to the quoted matter merely outside if they apply to the whole sentence.

Twain wrote, "If books are not good visitor, where will I observe it?"

BUT Was it Twain who wrote, "Ever obey your parents when they are present"?

Quotes within quotes

This is where single quotation marks come into play. When you're placing quotes within quotes, alternating between double and single quotation marks. But withal be certain to start with double quotation marks.

"I'chiliad not sure what she means by 'quantamental investing,'" he said.

Note that the comma comes earlier the single quotation mark, and there is no space between the single quotation marker and the double quotation mark.

Introductory punctuation

Commas and colons can be used to introduce quoted materials.

He wrote, "The economy's growth trajectory is stiff."

His book is summarized in its first judgement: "Our economy has nothing to fright from environmental regulation."

No introductory punctuation

Often, quoted material flows straight from your introductory text and no punctuation is needed.

Though he offered little prove of their crimes, his call to "round up all the scoundrels, lock them up, and throw away the primal" has riled the public.

Shakespeare coined the phrases "brevity is the soul of wit" and "proficient riddance," among many others.

Emphasis

Do not utilise quotation marks to emphasize a give-and-take. Merely don't. It's incorrect.

The force of your words should brand any formatting unnecessary, just if you really desire to emphasize something, use boldface or italics. Underlining damages readability, and caps lock is inappropriate in running text (and also yell-y).

Irony

You can, however, utilize quotation marks effectually a word or words used in an ironical sense.

The "fund-raiser" was actually a scam to line the alderman'south own pockets.

Q&A articles

Quotation marks are not required in a Q&A that identifies questions and answers with "Q:" and "A:."

Q: What makes a great leader?

A: The power to adapt.

*British English

Note that British English uses unmarried quotation marks in the same way we apply double and places all punctuation—including periods and commas—outside the closing quotation mark.

'I'thousand going to bed', she said.

This is un-American and should exist avoided at all costs.

Want to learn more?

We read the style guides and then you don't accept to. Check out our definitive guide to hyphens, em dashes, and en dashes, acquire what bogus writing rules you can ditch, and spruce upwards your writing with four of our favorite schemes.