John Noble (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jackofallgeeks) wrote2005-06-07 02:36 pm
jackofallgeeks) wrote2005-06-07 02:36 pm
Today's English Lesson
OK, so, I have a sort of love for language and grammar. It's really quite twisted. But this means that I'm a big fan of proper speaking, and writing, and grammar, and all that fun stuff. Of course, my mom makes a point of noting every time I say "Me and The Boys are doing such-and-such," but that's not the point.
One bit of grammar that's always eluded me, though, is the correct use of quotation marks. So, as I was thinking of this today, I went and looked it up in a reference guide, and thought I'd share the pertinent bits I found.
Quotations are used for direct quotes not indirect, meaning you only use them if you're quoting the exact words someone used. A direct quote begins with a capital letter. If the quote is split by an interrupting expression like "he said," the second part begind with a lower-case letter. Unless the second part is itself a new sentence, then it begins with a capital letter. A direct quote is set off from the rest of the sentence by commas or by a question mark or exclaimation point.
Commas and periods are always placed inside closing quotation marks.
Semicolons and colons are always placed outside of closing quotation marks.
Question marks and exclaimation points are placed inside the quotation marks if the quotation is a question or an exclamation, otherwise they are placed outside.
No more than one comma or end mark is used at the end of a quotation.
Single quotes enclose a quotation within a quotation.
Titles of chapters, articles, short stories, poems, and songs are placed in quotes. Book and magazine titles are underlined or italicized.
One bit of grammar that's always eluded me, though, is the correct use of quotation marks. So, as I was thinking of this today, I went and looked it up in a reference guide, and thought I'd share the pertinent bits I found.
Quotations are used for direct quotes not indirect, meaning you only use them if you're quoting the exact words someone used. A direct quote begins with a capital letter. If the quote is split by an interrupting expression like "he said," the second part begind with a lower-case letter. Unless the second part is itself a new sentence, then it begins with a capital letter. A direct quote is set off from the rest of the sentence by commas or by a question mark or exclaimation point.
Commas and periods are always placed inside closing quotation marks.
Semicolons and colons are always placed outside of closing quotation marks.
Question marks and exclaimation points are placed inside the quotation marks if the quotation is a question or an exclamation, otherwise they are placed outside.
No more than one comma or end mark is used at the end of a quotation.
Single quotes enclose a quotation within a quotation.
Titles of chapters, articles, short stories, poems, and songs are placed in quotes. Book and magazine titles are underlined or italicized.
ha!
Re: ha!
that bitch!
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
*loves Nifer*
Re: *loves Nifer*
Re: *loves Nifer*
no subject
"She called me over to her place [...] but we never did anything."
and if you want to make sure someone knew what the quote was refering to when the quote wasn't specific:
"They [Jim and Bob] went out for dinner."
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)