GrammarBook.com

Your #1 Source for Grammar and Punctuation

Punctuation in a Quote

Grammar in American English includes many finer details. One topic that involves several is punctuation in a quote, a subject that still often prompts questions from our readers. In this review, we'll explore proper punctuation in quoted content.

Punctuation in a Quote: Quotation Marks

Use quotation marks to set off all direct quotations. Quotation marks are used in pairs; the first mark indicates the beginning of the quotation and the second mark conveys its conclusion. Note also that the speaker and the verb should not be included within the quotation marks.

"I would like to purchase a new television," Jack said. "What models might fit within my budget?"


Punctuation in a Quote: Direct Quotations

Use double quotation marks to enclose direct quotations of someone other than the speaker.

According to Theo, Bob said "a superhuman effort will return us to profitability."


A nuance to note is that in instances where something is being quoted by someone other than the speaker, the quoted material may serve as a different part of speech. In the example right above, "a superhuman effort will return us to profitability" is acting as the direct object of "said." For this reason, we did not add a comma after "said."

Punctuation in a Quote: Other Marks

1) Use commas to set off expressions such as he said and she replied in quoted dialogue.

If the attribution appears within a statement, punctuate it with commas. If the attribution follows a complete statement, conclude the verb of speaking with a period. Quotations are concluded with a period as well.

In American English, both periods and commas are placed inside the quotation marks.

He said, "Let's wear sunscreen today."
"Good idea," she replied. "I'll put mine on in a moment."
"It's important," he said, "because we'll be outside for several hours."


2) When the quoted material is a question or an exclamation, the question mark or exclamation point replaces the comma.

"Sunscreen?" she said. "Good idea. I'll put mine on in a moment."


Place a question mark or an exclamation point outside the quotation marks when it applies to the whole sentence.

When did you hear him say "let's wear sunscreen today"?


When both the quoted text and the full sentence are questions, enclose the question mark within the quoted text.

Why did she ask "do you think we should wear some?"


3) When an attribution such as he said introduces a quotation, it might sometimes be followed by a colon to further emphasize the quotation.

It's as he said: "Let's wear sunscreen today. It's important because we'll be outside for several hours."


4) Place colons and semicolons outside of quotation marks.

He said, "Let's wear sunscreen today"; she agreed because of what he referred to as the "determining factor": they would be outside for several hours.


Punctuation in a Quote: Quotes within Quotes

If a quote appears within a quotation, enclose it with single quotation marks. You might also choose to separate the single and double quotation marks with a space.

"The parents were encouraged when Kathryn said 'let's
keep the park open although the extra funding hasn't been passed,' " Brian said.


If a quotation within a quotation includes yet another quotation, enclose it with double quotation marks. You might also choose to separate the different marks with a space.

"The parents were encouraged," Brian said, "when Kathryn said 'to quote Mayor Tilden, "let's keep the park open although the extra funding hasn't been passed." ' "


Related Topics

Diving Back into Dialogue: Part I
Diving Back into Dialogue: Part II
Quotations within Quotations

View and comment on this
article on our website.


Pop Quiz

Now that we've further reviewed punctuation in a quote, provide the correct marks for each sentence of quoted text.

1. That's a great shirt you're wearing Sheila said I think I'll buy one just like it

2. But what if the float's not done by tomorrow Jason asked Will we still join the parade

3. And if we were to go Barbara said would we still receive the family discount

4. It's like Joseph always says A penny of prevention is worth a dollar of cure

The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation


by Lester Kaufman and Jane Straus

Revised and Expanded Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation Now Available!

The twelfth edition of The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation made its debut on May 4, 2021. It has been seven years since the eleventh edition was published. So when the publisher, Jossey-Bass, requested another go-round, the team at GrammarBook.com was elated.

You will find the new, extensively revised and expanded version in keeping with our consistent vision of a direct, concise, unfussy grammar book.

The Blue Book, which started life as a booklet for California state employees, has now sold hundreds of thousands of copies. Over the years, we’ve seen the number of subscribers to our weekly newsletter grow from dozens to scores to hundreds; now, there are over 40,000 of you worldwide.

The new edition continues to stress the difference between rules on the one hand and conventions, customs, and tendencies on the other. We also added previously uncovered material, such as irregular verbs, that have been popular topics in our newsletters and blogs. In addition, the Confusing Words and Homonyms section has been greatly expanded, and we have developed all-new quizzes covering even more topics.

The new Blue Book takes on English in all its often maddening complexity, acknowledging its quirks, gray areas, exceptions, limitations, and contradictions. We realize that people want straight answers, but with English, there sometimes aren’t any, and we would be remiss in saying otherwise.

Order your copy of the new edition of The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation from Amazon now!

Get Even More Useful Grammar Tips

In addition to our weekly newsletter, we post new entries about American English grammar on Mondays and Fridays. The following are three of our most recent articles. Bookmark our GrammarBook blog and be sure to check it often.

Is It Father's Day or Fathers Day?

While vs. Although: Are They Interchangeable?

Cancelled or Canceled: Which Is Correct?

Free BONUS Quiz for You!

[[firstname]], because you are a subscriber to the newsletter, you get access to one of the Subscribers-Only Quizzes. Click here to take an Adjectives and Adverbs Quiz and get your scores and explanations instantly!

We will be adding many more quizzes this year to our already substantial list of quizzes. If you have suggestions for topics we have not yet covered, please send us a message at help@grammarbook.com.

Hundreds of Additional Quizzes
at Your Fingertips

Subscribe now to receive hundreds of additional English usage quizzes not found anywhere else!


Teachers and Employers

Save hours of valuable time! You may assign quizzes to your students and employees and have their scores tallied, organized, and reported to you! Let GrammarBook.com take the hassle out of teaching English!

"Fun to test my skills."

"The explanations really help ... thanks!"

"I can select the quizzes to assign to my students, and then the results are reported to me automatically!"

Find out more about our
subscription packages

99¢

QUIZZES

Don't need all the quizzes?

You can now purchase the same quizzes individually for ONLY 99¢ each.

Purchase yours here.

If you think you have found an error in a quiz, please email us at help@grammarbook.com

The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation


by Jane Straus, Lester Kaufman, and Tom Stern

The Authority on English Grammar! Eleventh Edition Also Available

An indispensable tool for busy professionals, teachers, students, homeschool families, editors, writers, and proofreaders.

Available in print AND as an e-Book! Over 2,000 copies are purchased every month!

To order the book, simply click the link to order the book from the GrammarBook.com website.

Order Your Copy Today!
 

Wordplay





Pop Quiz Answers

1. "That's a great shirt you're wearing," Sheila said. "I think I'll buy one just like it."

2. "But what if the float's not done by tomorrow?" Jason asked. "Will we still join the parade?"

3. "And if we were to go," Barbara said, "would we still receive the family discount?"

4. It's like Joseph always says: "A penny of prevention is worth a dollar of cure."

English In A Snap:
68 One-Minute English Usage Videos FREE

Learn all about who and whom, affect and effect, subjects and verbs, adjectives and adverbs, commas, semicolons, quotation marks, and much more by just sitting back and enjoying these easy-to-follow lessons. Tell your colleagues (and boss), children, teachers, and friends. Click here to watch.

Forward this e-newsletter to your friends and colleagues.

If you received this FREE weekly e-newsletter from a friend, click here to have it sent to you each week.

Look for more grammar tips or writing advice from GrammarBook.com next week.

Miss a recent newsletter? Click here to view past editions.