Quotation marks are used in almost every type of text. Whether it is an essay for a school assignment, to a major publication, there is no escaping them. American quotation marks are used primarily in 6 distinct ways: when repeating someone else’s exact words, to show irony, to show an unusual usage of a word or phrase, to refer to a word itself instead of its associated meaning, to refer to titles of works, and to refer to nicknames and false titles.
Repeating Someone Else’s Exact Words
What is meant here is that quotations should be placed around when using what someone else said exactly. This is known as quoting. This is very common especially in novels.
Example: “I was late because I overslept,” said George.
In this example, quotation marks are places around what was said by George indicating that this is exactly what George said. It’s important to note the comma before the closing quotation mark. This punctuation, which could be a comma, question mark, exclamation mark, or period, is where George’s exact words are interrupted by the speaker.
To Show Irony
Irony is the use of words to convey the opposite meaning of the literal meaning for what is said.
Example: My well rested friend said he was “too sleepy” to play soccer.
In this example, the quotation marks are around “too sleepy”. The speaker is trying to tell the reader that his friend was not actually too sleepy, and there must have been another reason for him not to play.
To Show Unusual Usage of a Word or Phrase
Words can be used in ways that may seem odd or uncommon in everyday speech. When this occurs, they must be offset with quotations to allow the reader to know that the word is being used in an unusual way.
Example: It is seemingly challenging to “know” everything about a person.
In this example, know is offset to show that is being used in an unusual way. The speaker is trying to convey that the notion of “knowing” everything about a person is somewhat ridiculous.
To Refer to a Word Itself Rather Than its Associated Meaning
Words can be used as more than what the word means.
Example: The “hammer” is the player who throws the last rock in a curling game.
In this example, the quotation marks are around the word hammer. The reader is attempting to explain to the reader that, in this context, “hammer” is the name of a position on a team rather than a tool used for construction.
To Refer to Titles of Works
It is important to offset titles of works in order to avoid confusion by the reader.
Example: The book, “The Bancroft Strategy”, by Robert Ludlum, is a suspenseful thriller.
In this example, the title of the book, “The Bancroft Strategy”, is offset. Remember use commas to further offset the title.
To Refer to Nicknames or False Titles
You also use quotations around names that are not the subject’s actual name.
Example: Mike “The Mad Man” Morgan is a hockey player.
In this example, quotations are used to offset the nickname of the hockey player.
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This article was written for you by Troy, one of the tutors with SchoolTutoring Academy.