How to Use Quotation Marks

Quotation marks are used to quote someone’s exact words. They are also used for the titles of short works.

Quotes

A quote presents someone’s exact words.

  • Example: The cartoon character Bugs Bunny is known for his catchphrase, “What’s up, Doc?”

Signal phrases often give quotes context. A signal phrase shows who is speaking when a quote is included in a sentence. Signal phrases can be placed at the beginning of a sentence, the middle of a sentence, or the end of a sentence.

  • Example: Gilbert said, “No matter what it takes, I’ll finish clown school.”
  • Example: “No matter what it takes,” Gilbert said, “I’ll finish clown school.”
  • Example: “No matter what it takes, I’ll finish clown school,” Gilbert said.

Full Sentence Quotes

A full-sentence quote presents an entire quoted sentence.

  • Example: "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

When using a full-sentence quote in an essay, avoid placing the quote in the middle of a paragraph without any context.

  • Incorrect: Many Americans sign up for the armed forces. "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." For those driven by patriotism, serving is the highest honor.
  • Correct:  Many Americans sign up for the armed forces. John F. Kennedy stirred Americans to service when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." For those driven by patriotism, serving is the highest honor.

Partial Quotes

A partial quote presents a segment of a quoted sentence. With a partial sentence quote, do not use a comma, and do not capitalize the first word inside the quotation marks. 

  • Original quote: “No matter what it takes, I’ll finish clown school.”
  • Partial quote: Gilbert said that he would finish clown school “no matter what it takes.”

Quotes and punctuation

Periods and commas that are part of a quote should be placed inside the quotation marks.

  • Example: He said, "It will rain today."
  • Example: “It will rain today,” he said.

If a quote itself is a question or an exclamation, place the punctuation inside the quotation marks.

  • Example: She asked, “Will it rain today?”
  • Example: The student shouted, “I’m graduating!”

If the sentence as a whole is a question or an exclamation, place the punctuation outside the quotation marks.

  • Example: Do you really think you’ll find your legendary “City of Gold”?
  • Example: She said that I’m “cute as a button”!
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