Single or double quotation marks

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Single or double quotation marks

What about if you do not have direct speech but are reporting several examples of what someone has said during the course of an activity eg: They shouted instructions to us such as 'over here' and 'to your right, guys'. Would you use those single quotation marks in order to clarify which parts of the speech were uttered by the instructors - or double quotation marks?

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Single or double quotation marks

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Feb 28, 2011

Single Quotation Marks
by: Audrey

In regular English, the only use of single quotation marks is for a quote within a quote. So if I report that my mother said, "Come here," I put that in double quotation marks.

Here is an example of how to use single quotation marks:

John said, "My mother always says, 'Come here,' when she wants me."

There are technical uses of single quotation marks in some disciplines, but if you are writing in one of those disciplines, someone will be telling you about those special cases.

Some other language also use other conventions. But since this is an English Web site, I'm sticking with what the average writer of English needs to know.

For more details, see The Chicago Manual of Style or another comprehensive style guide.

Feb 22, 2011

of course single quotation marks
by: sravan kirtan das

Double quotation marks are reserved for direct speeches. But when it comes to quoting someone in your own words, it is only proper that you use SINGLE QUOTATION MARKS!!!

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Single or double quotation marks

Comments for Single or double quotation marks

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Single or double quotation marks