Using Quotation Marks
Functions:
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Set off and represent exact language that has come from somebody else
Designate speech acts in fiction and sometimes poetry.
Act as a practical defense against accidental plagiarism
***Never leave a quotation alone in a sentence***
How to Properly Punctuate Quotations:
1) Leading into the quote with a colon announces that the quote that follows will provide
evidence for that sentence’s claim. A colon comes after a complete independent clause.
Hamlet denies Rosencrantz’s claim that thwarted ambition caused his depression: “I could be
bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of infinite space” (Hamlet 2.2).
2) Introducing the quote with a comma indicates that you are attributing it to a speaker. In
these cases, the quotation part of the independent clause.
Hamlet denies Rosencrantz’s claim that thwarted ambition caused his depression. He states, “I
could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of infinite space” (Hamlet 2.2).
3) Fragments – Use no punctuation if you slip the quotation correctly into the grammar of the
rest of the sentence.
According to Professor Jones, Lincoln “feared the spread of slavery,” but many of his aides
advised him to “watch and wait.”
4) Keep periods and commas within quotation marks.
According to Professor Jones, Lincoln “feared the spread of slavery,” but many of his aides
advised him to “watch and wait.”
In the above example, both the comma and period were enclosed in the quotation marks.
The main exception to this rule involves the use of internal citations, which always precede the
last period of the sentence. For example:
According to Professor Jones, Lincoln “feared the spread of slavery,” but many of his aides
advised him to “watch and wait” (Jones 143).
5) Place all other punctuation marks (colons, semicolons, exclamation marks, question
marks) outside the quotation marks, except when they were part of the original quotation.
1) The student wrote that the U. S. Civil War “finally ended around 1900″!
2) The coach yelled, “Run!”
In the first example, the author placed the exclamation point outside the quotation mark because
she added it herself to emphasize the absurdity of the student’s comment. The student’s original
comment had not included an exclamation mark. In the second example, the exclamation mark
remains within the quotation mark because it is indicating the excited tone in which the coach
yelled the command. Thus, the exclamation mark is considered to be part of the original
quotation.
Quotation Rules:
1. Do not open a quotation and fail to close it at the end of the quoted material.
2. Capitalize the first letter of a direct quote when the quoted material is a complete sentence.
Mr. Johnson, who was working in his field that morning, said, "The alien spaceship appeared right
before my own two eyes."
3. Do not use a capital letter when the quoted material is a fragment or only a piece of the
original material's complete sentence.
Although Mr. Johnson has seen odd happenings on the farm, he stated that the spaceship
"certainly takes the cake" when it comes to unexplainable activity.
4. If a direct quotation is interrupted mid-sentence, do not capitalize the second part of the
quotation.
"I didn't see an actual alien being," Mr. Johnson said, "but I sure wish I had."
5. If the original quote is too long and you feel not all the words are necessary in your own
paper, you may omit part of the quote. Replace the missing words with an ellipsis.
Original Quote: The quarterback told the reporter, "It's quite simple. They played a better game,
scored more points, and that's why we lost."
Omitted Material: The quarterback told the reporter, "It's quite simple. They … scored more
points, and that's why we lost."
6. If the context of your quote is unclear, add a few words to provide clarity in brackets.
Added Material: The quarterback told the reporter, "It's quite simple. They [the other team]
played a better game, scored more points, and that's why we lost."
Quotation Mark Exercise:
In the following sentences, insert quotation marks and punctuation wherever they are needed.
1. My teacher’s remark on my final essay was very complimentary This essay coherently
analyzes musical trends of the late 20th century.
2. John F. Kennedy inspired a generation with his words Ask not what your country can do
for you; ask what you can do for your country.
3. My French professor told me my accent is abominable.
4. She asked Is Time a magazine you read regularly?
5. When did Roosevelt say We have nothing to fear but fear itself?
Quotation Mark Exercise Answers
1. My teacher’s remark on my final essay was very complimentary: “This essay coherently
analyzes musical trends of the late 20th century.”
2. John F. Kennedy inspired a generation with his words: “Ask not what your country can
do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
3. My French professor told me my accent is “abominable.”
4. She asked, “Is Time a magazine you read regularly?”
5. When did Roosevelt say, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself”?