Using Quotation Marks
When writing a research paper, you will often have to directly quote, paraphrase,
and summarize other reference works or sources. It is best to know how to use
quotation marks in order for readers to comprehend and understand your work more.
Here are rules in using quotation marks:
Use quotation marks (“”) when reporting direct speech or when drawing
attention to a word.
Direct speech- the exact words said or used by another person you are quoting
Remember: Periods and commas ALWAYS go inside quotation marks.
Example: “Have you been to the BTS concert?” asked Fiona. “I did.” Alyssa replied.
Remember: Always capitalize the first word in a complete quotation, even midsentence.
Example: Toni said, “I made a song about microwaves during our second period.”
Remember: If the quotation comes before he said, she wrote, they reported,or a similar
attribution, end the quoted material with a comma, even if it is only one word.
Example: “I am sleepy,” he said.
Single quotation marks (‘’) are sometimes used when drawing attention to
a word.
Example: The word ‘supercalifragalisticexpialidocious’ is a very long word.
Indicates an unusual use of a word
Example:
In writing, in order to prove a point, we sometimes have to borrow the
exact words of another writer.
Remember: It is extremely important to mention whom the words belong to because you
may get accused of plagiarism if you don’t.
Example: J.K. Rowling, the author the Harry Potter series, once wrote , “Happiness can
be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
When the words you want to quote do not constitute a complete sentence,
there is no need to capitalize the first word
Example: My mom taught me a lesson: She said if you fail “don’t crawl, stand tall,
conquer all.”
Using Quotation Marks
A quoted complete sentence that is split into two parts does not require
capitalization for the second half.
Example: “I cannot drink something cold,” said Fiona, “because I’m sick,” she declared.
If there is a mistake in a quote, place the word “sic” in italics after the
erroneous word and enclose it in brackets.
Example: Fiona wrote in her letter that “they’re [sic] handwriting needs improvement.”
When inserting a quotation inside another quotation, use single quotation
marks.
Example: Alyssa said, “My dad told me ‘Don’t talk to strangers.”
If a term within a quotation is too general or too vague, you may insert an
explanation after it and enclose said explanation in a parenthesis.
Example: Peter was told that “she (Alyssa) was seen in SM with a Chinese man.”
Quotation marks may also be used for words that are expressed
sarcastically or have doubtful meanings for the speaker.
Example:
