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”!
