Writing for Grammar: Quotation Marks

There are various ways to punctuate dialogue and quotations depending on their placement in the sentence, their purpose, and the purpose of the sentence. The key is to be consistent. Here are some guidelines.

1. Use double quotation marks to surround quotations and to add special emphasis or irony to words and phrases.

He was “convinced” by the appearance of the gun.
Hamlet’s famous speech begins “To be or not to be, that is the question”.

2. In dialogue, punctuation goes inside the quotation marks.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked.
“I’m going to the police,” she replied.

"Really, there is no excuse for aggressive behavior," the supervisor said. "It sets a bad example."

3. For other uses, place all punctuation outside the quotation marks unless it is part of the quotation and necessary for understanding. Proper Canadian usage follows the U.K. style, not the U.S. style.

Incorrect: The court held that "physical injury is not a required element of a sexual harassment claim," and the plaintiff went on to win her case.
Correct: The court held that "physical injury is not a required element of a sexual harassment claim", and the plaintiff went on to win her case.

Incorrect: As Socrates asked Phaedrus, "[A]re you and I expected to praise the sentiments of the author, or only the clearness, and roundness, and accuracy and tournure of the language"?
Correct: As Socrates asked Phaedrus, " [A]re you and I expected to praise the sentiments of the author, or only the clearness, and roundness, and accuracy and tournure of the language?"

Incorrect: How dare you call me a "bad apple!"
Correct: How dare you call me a "bad apple"!

Correct: He referred to this group of people as his "gang": Heidi, Heather Shelley, and Jessie.

Correct: Marx did not believe that "a single nation should have a single leader"; nevertheless, he became a leader singled out.

In the second set of "Socrates" examples, the question mark is part of the original quotation from Phaedrus and should therefore be placed inside the quotation marks. However, in the third set of "bad apple" examples, the exclamation point is supplied by the writer and is therefore properly placed outside the quotation marks.

4. Use single quotation marks if one quote appears inside a longer quote. The use of single quotation marks around an internal quotation enables the reader to easily distinguish the internal quote from the material surrounding it. As such, single marks also allow the reader to determine from which source the internally quoted material was drawn.

Incorrect: "Last night you told me, and I quote, I would love to go to your mother’s for dinner,” she reminded him.
Incorrect: "Last night you told me, and I quote, “I would love to go to your mother’s for dinner,”” she reminded him.
Correct: "Last night you told me, and I quote, ‘I would love to go to your mother’s for dinner,’” she reminded him.