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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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. Irony is the use of words to convey the opposite meaning of the literal meaning for what is said. 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. Words can be used as more than what the word means. It is important to offset titles of works in order to avoid confusion by the reader. You also use quotations around names that are not the subject\u2019s actual name.
\nExample<\/strong>: \u201cI was late because I overslept,\u201d said George.<\/em>
\nIn this example, quotation marks are places around what was said by George indicating that this is exactly what George said. It\u2019s 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\u2019s exact words are interrupted by the speaker.<\/p>\nTo Show Irony<\/h4>\n
\nExample<\/strong><\/em>: My well rested friend said he was \u201ctoo sleepy\u201d to play soccer.
\nIn this example, the quotation marks are around \u201ctoo sleepy\u201d. 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.<\/p>\nTo Show Unusual Usage of a Word or Phrase<\/h4>\n
\nExample<\/strong><\/em>: It is seemingly challenging to \u201cknow\u201d everything about a person.
\nIn 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 \u201cknowing\u201d everything about a person is somewhat ridiculous.<\/p>\nTo Refer to a Word Itself Rather Than its Associated Meaning<\/h4>\n
\nExample<\/strong><\/em>: The \u201chammer\u201d is the player who throws the last rock in a curling game.
\nIn this example, the quotation marks are around the word hammer. The reader is attempting to explain to the reader that, in this context, \u201chammer\u201d is the name of a position on a team rather than a tool used for construction.<\/p>\nTo Refer to Titles of Works<\/h4>\n
\nExample<\/strong><\/em>: The book, \u201cThe Bancroft Strategy\u201d, by Robert Ludlum, is a suspenseful thriller.
\nIn this example, the title of the book, \u201cThe Bancroft Strategy\u201d, is offset. Remember use commas to further offset the title.<\/p>\nTo Refer to Nicknames or False Titles<\/h4>\n
\nExample<\/strong><\/em>: Mike \u201cThe Mad Man\u201d Morgan is a hockey player.
\nIn this example, quotations are used to offset the nickname of the hockey player.<\/p>\n