Quotation marks and direct speech
Quotation marks (‘ . . . ’ or “ . . . ” ), also known as inverted commas, are used to
enclose material that is part of direct
speech. Direct speech is a term
used to describe the reporting of speech by repeating exactly the actual words
used by the speaker, as in the following example:
Peter said, ‘I am tired of
this.’
‘I am tired of this.’ is a piece of
direct speech. Similarly in the
following example:
Jane asked, ‘Where are you
going?’
‘Where are you going?’ is a piece of
direct speech.
Quotation marks are used at the beginning and end of pieces of direct speech. Only the
words actually spoken are placed within the quotation marks, as in ‘If I were you,’ he said, ‘I would refuse to go.’
The quotation
marks involved can be either single
( ‘ . . .’ ) or double ( “ . .
. ” ) according
to preference or house style. Be sure to be consistent in your use of either single or double quotation marks.
If there is a
statement such as he said following
the piece of direct speech, a comma is placed before the second inverted comma, as in ‘Come
along,’ he said. If the piece of direct speech is a question or
exclamation, a question mark
or exclamation mark is put
instead of the comma, as in:
‘What are you doing?’ asked
John
‘Get away from me!’ she
screamed.
If a statement such as he said is placed within a sentence in direct speech, a comma is placed after he said and the second part of the piece of direct speech does not begin with a capital letter, as in:
‘I know very well,’ he said,
‘that you do not like me.’
If the piece of direct speech includes a complete
sentence, the sentence begins with a capital
letter, as in:
‘I am going away,’ she said, ‘and I am not coming back. Really, I don’t
feel that I belong here anymore.’
NB: Before
or after?
The full stop at the end of a
piece of direct speech that is a sentence should go before the closing inverted
comma.
Quotation marks and paragraphs
If the piece of direct speech quoted takes up more than
one paragraph, quotation marks are placed at the beginning of each new paragraph. However, quotation marks are not placed at the
end of each paragraph, just at the
end of the final one.
When writing a story, etc, that
includes dialogue or conversation, each new piece of direct speech should begin
on a new line or sometimes in a new paragraph.
Quotation marks are not used only to indicate direct speech. They have other uses.
Quotation marks are sometimes
used to indicate the title of a book or newspaper. The quotation marks used in this way can be either single or double,
according to individual preference or according to the house style of a
particular organization.
If a piece of
direct speech contains the title of a book, newspaper, poem, song, etc, it
should be put in the opposite type of quotation marks to those used to enclose
the piece of direct speech. Thus, if single
quotation marks have been used in the direct
speech, then double quotation marks
should be used for the title within
the direct speech, as in:
‘Have you read “Animal Farm”
by George Orwell?’ the teacher asked.
If double quotation marks have been used for the direct speech, single quotation marks should be used for the title, as in:
“Have you read ‘Animal Farm’
by George Orwell?” the teacher asked.
Quotation marks and a direct
quotation
When a piece of writing
includes a direct quotation from
another book, piece of text, or speaker, the words which are quoted are
contained within quotation marks, either single or double, according to
individual preference or house style, as in:
In his report the marketing
director refers to the new product as ‘a technological miracle’.
In his autobiography Brian
refers to that part of his life as ‘a terrible living nightmare’ and his sister
confirms that that was the case.
If the quotation from another
piece of text or speaker is fairly long it is often set out below on the page
and indented without quotation marks, as in:
The victim of the attack gave
the following statement to the police:
It was pitch dark and I was
attacked from behind. I had no opportunity to see my assailant and, therefore,
I could not possibly identify him, if, indeed, it was a man. I suppose it could
have been a woman. At any rate, I was hit over the head by something heavy and
I knew nothing more till I woke up lying on the ground with a very sore head.
My wallet and watch had gone.
Sometimes writers
use quotation marks round a word or
words to indicate that this expression is not their own or not one that they
would have chosen to use, as in:
The ‘exclusive hotel’ we
stayed in was far from comfortable.
Sometimes the word so-called
is also included, as in:
The so-called ‘exclusive
hotel’ we stayed in was far from comfortable.
However, either the quotation
marks or the word so-called will
suffice on their own. You do not need to use both.
NB: Titles
Often, titles are put in italic type instead of quotation
marks. This avoids the clumsiness that can occur when both sets of
quotation marks end on the same word, as in
The pupil replied, ‘No, I have not read Animal Farm.’
1 Rewrite the following
conversations, inserting quotation marks
where this is appropriate.
a
What time is it? asked Mike.
It’s nearly 11 o’clock,
replied John.
I’d better leave soon, said
Mike, because I don’t want to be too late home.
If you leave now, said Bill,
you’ll be in time to catch the last bus.
Good idea! exclaimed Mike,
getting up to leave.
b
Mary said, I know that I
can’t really afford a new dress, but I don’t have anything suitable to wear to
Sally’s wedding.
I bought a new outfit for my
cousin’s wedding earlier this year, said Lucy, and I’ve not worn it since. You
are welcome to borrow it if you want.
That’s very kind of you, said
Mary, and we’re much the same size. Could I come over to your flat and try it
on?
Sure! replied Lucy. Let me
know when you want to come. I’ll be in most evenings this week.
c
I’m reading Bleak House at
the moment. Have you read it? asked Sue.
No, replied Jack, I haven’t,
but I’ve read quite a lot of novels by Dickens.
What’s your favourite? asked
Sue.
I think I like David
Copperfield and Hard Times best, said Jack, but I’m fond of
A Tale of Two Cities as well.
Do you have a favourite, Sue?
Sue replied, Yes, I do. It’s
Great Expectations, without a doubt.
2 Rewrite the following sentences, inserting quotation marks where this is
a The organization’s new
computer system was hailed by the designers as a triumph for modern technology, but it broke down at least three times a
week, on average.
b The released hostage
described the conditions which he experienced as a hostage as hell on earth.
c The so-called home from home
turned out to be a damp, cold, run-down cottage in the middle of nowhere.
d The accommodation in the
exclusive luxury hotel was very basic and the food that was served was appalling
and virtually inedible.
1
a
‘What time is it?’ asked Mike.
‘It’s nearly 11 o’clock,’
replied John.
‘I’d better leave soon,’ said Mike, ‘because I don’t want to be too late
home.’ ‘If you leave now,’ said Bill, ‘you’ll be in time to catch the last
bus.’ ‘Good idea!’ exclaimed Mike, getting up to leave.
b
Mary said, ‘I know that I
can’t really afford a new dress, but I don’t have anything suitable to wear to
Sally’s wedding.’
‘I bought a new outfit for my
cousin’s wedding earlier this year,’ said Lucy, ‘and I’ve not worn it since.
You are welcome to borrow it if you want.’
‘That’s very kind of you,’
said Mary, ‘and we’re much the same size. Could I come over to your flat and
try it on?’
‘Sure!’ replied Lucy. ‘Let me know when you want to come. I’ll be in
most evenings this week.’
c
‘I’m reading “Bleak House” at the moment. Have you read it?’ asked Sue. ‘No,’ replied Jack, ‘I haven’t, but I’ve read quite a lot of novels by
Dickens.’ ‘What’s your favourite?’ asked Sue.
‘I think I like “David
Copperfield” and “Hard Times” best,’ said Jack, ‘but I’m fond of “A Tale of Two
Cities” as well. Do you have a favourite, Sue?’ Sue replied, ‘Yes, I do. It’s
“Great Expectations”, without a doubt.’
2
a The organization’s new
computer system was hailed by the designers as ‘a triumph of modern
technology’, but it broke down at least three times a week, on average.
b The released hostage
described the conditions which he experienced as a hostage as ‘hell on earth’.
c The so-called home from home
turned out to be a damp, cold, run-down cottage in the middle of nowhere.
d The accommodation in the
‘exclusive luxury hotel’ was very basic and the food that was served was appalling
and virtually inedible.
