“QUOTATION MARKS”

POINT ONE

An indirect quote does not use quotation marks. The word “that” indicates indirect quotes.

Ronald said that he dislikes you.

The mayor shouted that he would not be kicked around.

Fitzroy replied he was late.

POINT ONE Continued…

Direct quotes do get quotation marks around the quoted statement.

Ronald said, “I dislike you.”Fitzroy replied, “I am late.”The mayor shouted, “I will not be kicked

around.”

POINT TWO

The first word of a quote is always capitalized.

The captain yelled, “Man the lifeboats!”

POINT TWO Continued…

The second part of a split quotation, however, is not capitalized.

“I will,” the masked man said, “fight for truth, liberty and justice.”

POINT THREE

Notice that the part of the sentence which is not written within the quotation marks is set off with commas. If the quotation is a split quotation, the stating phrase has a comma before and after it.

“I will,” the masked man said, “fight for truth, liberty and justice.”

POINT FOUR

Put a question mark within the quotation marks if a direct quote is asking a question.“Who has a dollar?” Jane asked.

Put an exclamation point within the quotation marks if a direct quote is an exclamation.“I won a million dollars!” my father shouted.*because of the question mark and exclamation point, no comma was needed.

POINT FIVE

Put quotation marks around the titles of short stories, poems, and songs.In class we read the story “The Necklace” and for homework we had to read the poem, “The Raven.”

Remember: the titles of books are not in quotation marks; they are in Italics.He lost his copy of Oliver Twist.

POINT SIX

A quotation within another quotation is enclosed by single quotation marks.

The teacher said, “Today you will read the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ and tomorrow you will recite it.”

Mark said, “Roosevelt’s statement, ‘The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,’ has had a great influence on my life.”