Quotation Marks in English: Rules, Examples, and Common Mistakes Explained

Quotation marks are punctuation marks used to show the exact words someone has spoken, to highlight short works like stories or songs, or to draw attention to a specific word or phrase.

There are two styles of quotation marks: double (“ ”) and single (‘ ’). Quotation marks may look simple, but they often cause confusion—especially about where punctuation like commas and periods should go, or when to use italics instead.

What Are Quotation Marks?

Quotation marks are pairs of punctuation marks that enclose words taken directly from speech or text. They appear in two forms: double (“ ”) and single (‘ ’).

In writing, quotation marks work like boundaries—they show where someone’s exact words begin and end. For Example, Maria said, “The project will be ready by Monday.” The sentence outside the marks belongs to the writer, while the words inside show the speaker’s exact statement.

Quotation marks are also used in other contexts, such as enclosing titles of short works or highlighting specific terms:

• We read “The Tell-Tale Heart” in class.
• The term “sustainability” is often misunderstood.

Both single and double quotation marks serve the same grammatical purpose. The choice depends on the variety of English you’re using:

• American English: “double quotation marks” are standard.
• British English: ‘single quotation marks’ are preferred, though double may appear in nested quotations.

Quotation Marks in Direct and Indirect Speech

Quotation marks are most often used in direct speech, when you write the exact words someone has said. They act as visual boundaries between the speaker’s words and the rest of the sentence, making it clear who is speaking and what was said.

Examples of Direct Speech:

• Liam said, “I’ll call you after the meeting.”
• “Please take a seat,” the receptionist said.
• “This book,” she added, “changed how I think about history.”

Each example shows quotation marks enclosing the speaker’s exact words. Notice how commas and capitalization work with them—the spoken part starts with a capital letter and is set off from the rest of the sentence with a comma or pause.

In indirect speech, quotation marks are not used because the speaker’s words are reported, not repeated verbatim.
Examples of Indirect Speech:

• Liam said that he would call after the meeting.
• The receptionist asked us to take a seat.
• She added that the book had changed her perspective on history.

Indirect speech blends the message into the sentence rather than quoting it word-for-word, so quotation marks aren’t needed.

The difference is simple: if the words are exactly what was said, use quotation marks. If you’re paraphrasing, leave them out.

Punctuation Inside or Outside Quotation Marks (American vs. British English)

One of the biggest differences between American and British English lies in where punctuation marks are placed when using quotation marks. Both systems are correct—they simply follow different conventions.

American English

In American English, periods and commas always go inside the quotation marks, even if they’re not part of the quoted material.

Examples:

• She said, “Let’s meet after lunch.”
• “I agree,” he replied, “but we should confirm the details.”

British English

In British English, punctuation follows logical placement. This means a period or comma goes inside the quotation marks only if it is part of the quoted material itself. If it’s not part of the original quote, it stays outside.

Examples:

• He called it ‘a breakthrough in technology’. → The quoted phrase is part of a longer sentence, so the period is outside.
• He said, ‘It’s a breakthrough in technology.’ → The quoted words are a full sentence, so the period is inside.
• She described it as ‘an important step’, and everyone agreed. → The comma belongs to the overall sentence, not the quoted phrase, so it stays outside the quotation marks.
• She said, ‘It’s an important step,’ and smiled. → The comma is part of the quoted speech, so it goes inside the quotation marks.

Quotation Marks with Other Punctuation

Once you understand where commas and periods belong in quoted text, the next step is learning how other punctuation marks—like question marks, exclamation marks, colons, and semicolons—interact with quotation marks.

The placement depends on meaning and structure, not just rules.

Question Marks and Exclamation Marks

If the punctuation is part of the quoted words, keep it inside the quotation marks. If it applies to the whole sentence, place it outside.

Examples:

• She asked, “Are you ready?” (The question is inside the quote.)
• Did he really say “We’re moving”? (The question applies to the entire sentence.)
• He shouted, “Run faster!” (The exclamation is part of what was said.)
• I can’t believe she said “Run faster”! (The exclamation belongs to the full sentence.)

Colons and Semicolons

Colons and semicolons always stay outside the quotation marks, regardless of meaning.

Examples:

• Three chapters stood out: “Beginnings,” “Turning Points,” and “Resolutions.”
• She called it “the perfect plan”; we couldn’t disagree.

In short, think about which part of the sentence the punctuation “belongs” to. If it ends the quoted words, it goes inside. If it finishes your full sentence, it stays outside.

Using Quotation Marks for Titles and Specific Words

Quotation marks are also used to enclose titles of short works and to highlight specific words or expressions that need focus or distinction.

When referring to titles, quotation marks are used for shorter pieces such as articles, poems, songs, or chapters. Longer works like books, newspapers, movies, or TV series are written in italics instead.

Examples:

• We analyzed the short story “The Lottery” in class.
• Have you listened to “Let It Be” by The Beatles?
• The article “Learning Beyond the Classroom” explains the value of fieldwork.
• I’m currently reading The Old Man and the Sea.
• National Geographic featured an issue on coral reefs.

Quotation marks also help draw attention to a specific word or phrase that’s being discussed or used in a special sense.

Example:

• The word “set” has many different meanings in English.
• Some people use “literally” when they really mean “figuratively.”

In academic or professional writing, this type of highlighting is often replaced by italics for a cleaner appearance. However, quotation marks remain common in general or informal contexts, especially when introducing unfamiliar terms or showing irony.

Example:

• Many so-called “miracle cures” have no scientific proof.
• The meeting was described as “productive,” though no decisions were made.

Use quotation marks purposefully; either to mark titles, indicate discussion of a word, or show a special tone. Overusing them for emphasis, however, can make writing look uncertain or sarcastic.

Capitalizing the First Word in Quoted Sentences

When introducing a full sentence in quotation marks, always capitalize the first letter of the quoted sentence. This signals that the quotation is a complete thought on its own.

Examples:

• The teacher said, “Practice makes perfect.”
• He replied, “We’ll finish the report by tomorrow.”

However, if the quotation is only a fragment or part of a sentence, you don’t capitalize the first letter.

Examples:

• The teacher said that “practice makes perfect.”
• She described the result as “a remarkable improvement.”

A simple way to remember:

• Capitalize when quoting a complete sentence.
• Keep lowercase when quoting a phrase or clause that fits within your own sentence.

When to Use Single Quotation Marks

While double quotation marks (“ ”) are more common, single quotation marks (‘ ’) are also used in specific situations. Their placement depends on the variety of English you’re writing in and the structure of your sentence.

In British English, single quotation marks are often used as the main quotation marks. Double quotation marks are then used inside them when one quotation appears within another.

Examples:

• ‘I heard her say, “We’ll meet at noon,” before she left,’ Daniel explained.
• ‘That article titled “Breaking Barriers” was insightful,’ she said.

In American English, the order is reversed—double quotation marks are the standard, and single quotation marks are used only for quotes within quotes.

Example: “Did she really say ‘I’m not going’?” asked Marcus.

Single quotation marks can also appear in specialized writing, such as linguistics, technical notation, or headlines, but these uses are rare in everyday English.

A simple rule to remember:

• Use single quotation marks inside another set of quotation marks.
• Use double quotation marks for everything else.

Using Quotation Marks to Show Irony, Sarcasm, or Skepticism (Scare Quotes)

Quotation marks can also be used to show irony, sarcasm, or doubt about a word or phrase. This use is known as scare quotes—they suggest that the writer doesn’t fully agree with or accept the term being used.

Examples:

• She said she was “too busy” to attend the meeting.
• The “freshly baked” cookies were clearly from a package.
• He’s an “expert” on every topic imaginable.

In each case, the quotation marks hint at disbelief or distance. They tell the reader that the term shouldn’t be taken literally or at face value.

Scare quotes are common in journalism, commentary, and informal writing, but they should be used sparingly. Overusing them can make writing sound overly skeptical or sarcastic, even when that’s not the intention.

Common Mistakes with Quotation Marks

Quotation marks are easy to overuse or misplace, especially when you’re writing quickly. Most mistakes come from treating them as decoration rather than as precise punctuation.

One common error is using quotation marks for emphasis instead of italics or bold. Writing The “best” solution will depend on timing can sound sarcastic or uncertain. In formal writing, emphasis should come through word choice or italics, not quotation marks.

Writers also sometimes mix single and double quotation marks inconsistently within the same piece, or forget to close a quote entirely—both errors break the reader’s focus. Always check that every opening mark has a matching closing mark and that your chosen style (single or double) is consistent throughout.

Finally, quotation marks are often misplaced when combined with punctuation. A comma or period belongs inside or outside, depending on the style you’re following (American or British). Consistency is what makes your writing look deliberate and polished.

Quick Reference: Quotation Marks Usage

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)