Quotation PunctuationQuotation Punctuation Place quotation marks before and after the Place quotation marks before and after the

words that are being said.words that are being said.

“ “ No one told me it was time to go.”No one told me it was time to go.”

Use a capital letter with the first Use a capital letter with the first word of a direct quotation.word of a direct quotation.

“ “ Mark didn’t know the answer.” Mark didn’t know the answer.” If the quotation is interrupted, you do If the quotation is interrupted, you do

not capitalize the second part of the not capitalize the second part of the quotation unless it is a proper noun.quotation unless it is a proper noun.

“ “I wonder,” said Mary, “ if Mark I wonder,” said Mary, “ if Mark didn’t know the answer.didn’t know the answer.

PunctuationPunctuation

Put commas and periods within closing quotation marksPut commas and periods within closing quotation marks

” ” I will never forget youI will never forget you..””

If the quotation asks a question the question mark goes inside of If the quotation asks a question the question mark goes inside of the quotation marks.the quotation marks.

“ “ Do you really like this songDo you really like this song??” ”

But if the whole sentence is a question then the question mark But if the whole sentence is a question then the question mark goes at the end of the sentence.goes at the end of the sentence.

Does Robert always say,” See you on Monday”Does Robert always say,” See you on Monday”??

Set the Set the speaker tagspeaker tag off with a comma off with a comma

BeforeBefore Sam saidSam said,, “ “ No one told me it was time No one told me it was time

to go.to go.””

DuringDuring ““No one,” No one,” Sam saidSam said,, “told me it was time “told me it was time

to go.”to go.”

AfterAfter No one told me it was time to go,” Sam No one told me it was time to go,” Sam

said. said.

Write each person’s spoken words, Write each person’s spoken words, however brief, in a new paragraph.however brief, in a new paragraph.

The rule is …new speaker, new The rule is …new speaker, new paragraphparagraph

When you quote a single line of poetry, When you quote a single line of poetry, write it like any other short quotation.write it like any other short quotation.

In his poem “Stopping By Woods On a In his poem “Stopping By Woods On a Snowy Evening,” Robert Frost writes: Snowy Evening,” Robert Frost writes: “The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, “The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep.”But I have promises to keep.”

If the quotation from a poem is three lines or If the quotation from a poem is three lines or longer, set it off like a block quotation. Quote the longer, set it off like a block quotation. Quote the poem line by line as it appears on the original poem line by line as it appears on the original page, and do not use quotation marks. Indent page, and do not use quotation marks. Indent the quoted poetry.the quoted poetry.

In his poem “Stopping By Woods On A Snowy In his poem “Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening,” Robert Frost laments:Evening,” Robert Frost laments:

The woods are lovely, dark, and deepThe woods are lovely, dark, and deep But I have promises to keep,But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep,And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. And miles to go before I sleep.

Other UsesOther Uses

Use quotation marks to indicate Use quotation marks to indicate words used ironically, or in some words used ironically, or in some unusual way.unusual way.

The girls thought seeing the owl was The girls thought seeing the owl was a real “hoot.” a real “hoot.”