Common ConfusionsCommon ConfusionsQuotations, apostrophes, and more!Quotations, apostrophes, and more!

TCTC Writing CenterTCTC Writing CenterPrepared by Jennifer Higgins-SpiersPrepared by Jennifer Higgins-Spiers

July 2007July 2007

Quotation Confusions….Quotation Confusions….

When students write quotations, they tend When students write quotations, they tend to believe that ALL quotes must go inside to believe that ALL quotes must go inside quotation marks. This is not always true. quotation marks. This is not always true.

Indirect quotes explain what was said or Indirect quotes explain what was said or described in written text, DIRECT quotes described in written text, DIRECT quotes are EXACT quotes from the person’s are EXACT quotes from the person’s mouth or written textmouth or written text. .

Only direct quotes need quotation marksOnly direct quotes need quotation marks..

Direct Quotes vs. Indirect QuotesDirect Quotes vs. Indirect Quotes He said, “The Tigers will play against the He said, “The Tigers will play against the

Gamecocks next week.” Gamecocks next week.” DIRECT QUOTEDIRECT QUOTE

He said that the Tigers will play against the He said that the Tigers will play against the Gamecocks next week. Gamecocks next week. INDIRECT QUOTEINDIRECT QUOTE

According to Dr. Finnegan, “Results of the According to Dr. Finnegan, “Results of the experiments will vary depending on age and experiments will vary depending on age and weight.” weight.” DIRECT QUOTEDIRECT QUOTE

Dr. Finnegan explained that the results of the Dr. Finnegan explained that the results of the experiments will vary depending on age and weight. experiments will vary depending on age and weight. INDIRECT QUOTEINDIRECT QUOTE

Incorrect Usage of Quotation MarksIncorrect Usage of Quotation Marks

Mrs. Donovan said that “Earth is located in Mrs. Donovan said that “Earth is located in the Milky Way Galaxy.”the Milky Way Galaxy.”

The principal told us “that school safety The principal told us “that school safety was our number one priority.”was our number one priority.”

My mother said that “she was tired.”My mother said that “she was tired.” It has been said that “life is like a box of It has been said that “life is like a box of

chocolates.”chocolates.”

Punctuation and Capitalization Punctuation and Capitalization Inside Quotation Marks.Inside Quotation Marks.

Periods and commas Periods and commas ALWAYS go inside the ALWAYS go inside the quotation marks.quotation marks.

First letters of the first words in First letters of the first words in quotes are ALWAYS quotes are ALWAYS capitalized. If you have a capitalized. If you have a SPLIT quote, the second part SPLIT quote, the second part of the quote does not always of the quote does not always need capitalization.need capitalization.

Question marks go inside the Question marks go inside the quote only if the ? is part of the quote only if the ? is part of the quote.quote.

Semicolons and colons go Semicolons and colons go outside the quotation marks. outside the quotation marks.

““Next week, we need to get our Next week, we need to get our visa for Kazakhstan,” Rob said.visa for Kazakhstan,” Rob said.

Rob said, “Next week, we need Rob said, “Next week, we need to get our visa for Kazakhstan.” to get our visa for Kazakhstan.”

““Next week,” he said, “we need Next week,” he said, “we need to get our visa for Kazakhstan.”to get our visa for Kazakhstan.”

““Can you help me with this Can you help me with this physics problem?” Margo physics problem?” Margo asked.asked.

Do you like the song “Blue Do you like the song “Blue Suede Shoes”?Suede Shoes”?

Bam Bam yelled, “Pebbles! Bam Bam yelled, “Pebbles! Come here!”; Pebbles Come here!”; Pebbles exclaimed, “Get away from me!”exclaimed, “Get away from me!”

Apostrophe ConfusionsApostrophe Confusions Apostrophes are used in TWO ways: Apostrophes are used in TWO ways:

To show possession To show possession For contractions (combining a pronoun/verb or a verb/adverb For contractions (combining a pronoun/verb or a verb/adverb

and sometimes two verbs)and sometimes two verbs) You NEVER use the apostrophe to make a word plural.You NEVER use the apostrophe to make a word plural. You NEVER use an apostrophe for a verb that ends in -s You NEVER use an apostrophe for a verb that ends in -s

Plural Plural means more than one.means more than one. Possessive Possessive means ownership.means ownership.

Contraction Contraction means combination.means combination.

Apostrophes for ContractionsApostrophes for Contractions They They can’tcan’t be serious! be serious!can + not (verb + adverb)can + not (verb + adverb) Isn’t Isn’t that lovely?that lovely?is + not (verb + adverb)is + not (verb + adverb) She’s She’s coming tomorrow.coming tomorrow.she + is (pronoun + verb)she + is (pronoun + verb) Mark Mark should’veshould’ve listened to him. listened to him.should+ have (verb + verb)should+ have (verb + verb) You’llYou’ll have to wait. have to wait.you + will (pronoun + verb)you + will (pronoun + verb) Do you know when Do you know when they’rethey’re coming? coming?they + are (pronoun + verb)they + are (pronoun + verb)

Plural vs. PossessivePlural vs. Possessive They have so many They have so many dogsdogs! ! Plural- NO Plural- NO

apostropheapostrophe The The dog’sdog’s paw is sore. paw is sore. Possessive- NEEDS Possessive- NEEDS

apostropheapostrophe All studentsAll students should go to the Writing Center. should go to the Writing Center.

Plural- NO apostrophePlural- NO apostrophe Students’Students’ writing will improve! writing will improve! Possessive- Possessive-

NEEDS apostropheNEEDS apostrophe

Note: The Difference between Note: The Difference between Possessive Nouns and PronounsPossessive Nouns and Pronouns

You use apostrophes for possessive You use apostrophes for possessive NOUNS only. NOUNS only.

Possessive pronouns are separate words Possessive pronouns are separate words and NEVER need an apostrophe!and NEVER need an apostrophe!

REMEMBER: You NEVER use REMEMBER: You NEVER use apostrophes to make a noun or pronoun apostrophes to make a noun or pronoun plural!plural!

Incorrect usage of apostrophesIncorrect usage of apostrophes Those Those bead’s bead’s are are her’s.her’s. I want to buy five I want to buy five horse’s horse’s for our barn.for our barn. She never She never use’suse’s apostrophe’s apostrophe’s correctly!correctly! I know I know his’his’ family. family. Today, I bought Today, I bought egg’segg’s, , potato’s,potato’s, chip’schip’s

and and pickle’spickle’s. .

This is BAD! DON’T DO IT!This is BAD! DON’T DO IT!

When Apostrophes Are Tricky…When Apostrophes Are Tricky…

Most of the time, when you indicate Most of the time, when you indicate possession in a noun, the apostrophe possession in a noun, the apostrophe comes BEFORE the –s. comes BEFORE the –s.

Apostrophes, however, are complicated. Apostrophes, however, are complicated. They like to confuse you. They like to confuse you.

Sometimes you need to put the Sometimes you need to put the apostrophe AFTER the –s in order to apostrophe AFTER the –s in order to make your possessive noun correct.make your possessive noun correct.

WHY? WHY? WHY?WHY? WHY? WHY? Remember: Nouns are both SINGULAR and Remember: Nouns are both SINGULAR and

PLURAL.PLURAL. When the apostrophe comes BEFORE the –s, When the apostrophe comes BEFORE the –s,

the noun is SINGULAR and the possession the noun is SINGULAR and the possession deals with that ONE noun ONLY. deals with that ONE noun ONLY.

When the apostrophe comes AFTER the –s, the When the apostrophe comes AFTER the –s, the noun is PLURAL and the possession deals with noun is PLURAL and the possession deals with the plural noun.the plural noun.

A good rule to follow with plural possessives is A good rule to follow with plural possessives is to make the noun plural and then make it to make the noun plural and then make it possessive. possessive.

Examples of the Plural PossessiveExamples of the Plural Possessive

The governments’ leaders will have a big The governments’ leaders will have a big summit next week. (More than one leader summit next week. (More than one leader of of more than one governmentmore than one government).).

The kittens’ mother is too tired to play.The kittens’ mother is too tired to play.(ONE mother to (ONE mother to more than one kittenmore than one kitten).).

Jessica stayed the night at her parents’ Jessica stayed the night at her parents’ house. (She has house. (She has more than one parentmore than one parent living in one house). living in one house).

Grammatical ConfusionsGrammatical Confusions

There are some grammatical structures There are some grammatical structures that are incorrectly mistaken for that are incorrectly mistaken for grammatical errors:grammatical errors: Passive voicePassive voice Multiple commasMultiple commas NumbersNumbers

Passive VoicePassive Voice When you are writing, MS Word picks up on some When you are writing, MS Word picks up on some

grammatical structures. Many times, if you write a grammatical structures. Many times, if you write a sentence in passive voice, MS Word will “tell you.”sentence in passive voice, MS Word will “tell you.”

While MS word underlines the sentence, it is often While MS word underlines the sentence, it is often mistaken as an error. Passive voice sentences are mistaken as an error. Passive voice sentences are GRAMMTICALLY CORRECT; you just want to limit GRAMMTICALLY CORRECT; you just want to limit yourself on the number of passive voice sentences.yourself on the number of passive voice sentences.

Passive voice, if overused, creates confusion to the Passive voice, if overused, creates confusion to the reader. Otherwise, it is perfectly OK to use it. There may reader. Otherwise, it is perfectly OK to use it. There may be better ways to write the sentence, but it is not be better ways to write the sentence, but it is not incorrect.incorrect.

Sometimes you MUST write a sentence in passive voice, Sometimes you MUST write a sentence in passive voice, depending on the context of your paragraph. Be sure depending on the context of your paragraph. Be sure that you are clear. that you are clear.

Examples of Passive Voice Examples of Passive Voice SentencesSentences

Passive VoicePassive Voice The tantrum was thrown by The tantrum was thrown by

my brother.my brother. It has been said: if you can’t It has been said: if you can’t

stand the heat, stay out of stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen. the kitchen.

The cookies were engulfed The cookies were engulfed by the Cookie Monster.by the Cookie Monster.

The flowers were planted.The flowers were planted. We have been told to never We have been told to never

talk to strangers.talk to strangers. CSICSI has been watched for a has been watched for a

long time.long time.

Active VoiceActive Voice My brother threw a tantrum.My brother threw a tantrum. ““If you can’t stand the heat, If you can’t stand the heat,

stay out of the kitchen” is a stay out of the kitchen” is a famous quote.famous quote.

The Cookie Monster The Cookie Monster engulfed the cookies.engulfed the cookies.

Jamie and Ashley planted Jamie and Ashley planted the flowers.the flowers.

Our parents told us to never Our parents told us to never talk to strangers.talk to strangers.

People have watched People have watched CSICSI for a long time. for a long time.

Remember: all of these passive voice sentences are grammatically correct; just make sure you avoid using this too often.

Multiple CommasMultiple Commas Sometimes we write COMPLICATED sentences! Sometimes we write COMPLICATED sentences!

When we do this, we may need to use more When we do this, we may need to use more than one comma in a sentence.than one comma in a sentence.

Students are often wary about using commas Students are often wary about using commas since they tend to get themselves in trouble since they tend to get themselves in trouble using so many commas.using so many commas.

If you know your comma rules and FOLLOW If you know your comma rules and FOLLOW THEM, you will find that your commas, even if THEM, you will find that your commas, even if you have a bunch of them in one sentence, are you have a bunch of them in one sentence, are correct. correct.

Remember: a comma splice happens ONLY Remember: a comma splice happens ONLY when a comma joins two independent clauses.when a comma joins two independent clauses.

Examples of Sentences with Examples of Sentences with Multiple CommasMultiple Commas

A long time agoA long time ago,, a large lightning bolt hit that a large lightning bolt hit that treetree, , and when the tree felland when the tree fell,, it damaged our roof. it damaged our roof.

They tried to get homeThey tried to get home,, but since the water level but since the water level rose so quicklyrose so quickly, , they were stuck on the they were stuck on the interstate. interstate.

Last weekLast week,, even though it was a cold even though it was a cold,, cloudy cloudy dayday,, I got a lot of work done in my yard I got a lot of work done in my yard,, and I and I was able to clean my entire housewas able to clean my entire house,, too. too.

After three long yearsAfter three long years,, Persephone Persephone,, a senior a senior who worked five part-time jobswho worked five part-time jobs,, was finally able was finally able to save enough money to study in St. to save enough money to study in St. Petersburg. Petersburg.

NumbersNumbers

Here is the rule:Here is the rule: You spell out numbers between zero and nine,You spell out numbers between zero and nine, You write any number 10 and above. You write any number 10 and above. Exceptions to the rule:Exceptions to the rule: If you have a number as the first word in your If you have a number as the first word in your

sentence, you need to spell it out.sentence, you need to spell it out. If you have a sentence with multiple numbers, If you have a sentence with multiple numbers,

and some of them include numbers beyond 10, and some of them include numbers beyond 10, you can write out all numbers you can write out all numbers

Examples of Sentences with Examples of Sentences with NumbersNumbers

Zoey needs to grow three more inches Zoey needs to grow three more inches before she can ride the roller coaster.before she can ride the roller coaster.

I haven’t seen her in 15 years!I haven’t seen her in 15 years! He is 12, his brother is 6, and his sister is He is 12, his brother is 6, and his sister is

9. 9. Seventeen years ago, she was convicted Seventeen years ago, she was convicted

of blatant plagiarism, and now she is of blatant plagiarism, and now she is finally getting out of jail. finally getting out of jail.

You’re finished!You’re finished!

Hopefully you are not more confused Hopefully you are not more confused about these issues than you were before about these issues than you were before you began this presentation!you began this presentation!