Quotation Marks, Italics, and Underlining

Two good examples that show why you really need to know how to use "quotation marks" correctly.

"Get to the other side"? What are they REALLY

trying to say here?Sounds a little sinister

to me...

I don't even know what to say about this one.

When NOT to use quotation marks

So it's not really a fire alarm?

Well, maybe they're appropriate here. I guess he's

really not a security guard since he's sleeping on the job.

When to use quotation marks

For direct quotes - when you write a speaker's exact words

For titles of short works

Use quotation marks when you write a speaker's exact words

"Please open your books now," said Mr. Jones.

Then he said, "We're ready to begin."

• Notice that the first word inside the quotes is capitalized, whether the quote is at the beginning of the sentence or in the middle of it.

Divided Quotes

"Today," Mr. Jones explained, "you're going to read about the twelve Olympian gods of Greek mythology."

• This is an example of a divided quote. The exact words of the speaker are split up. Notice that in the second part of the quote, the first word is NOT capitalized. This is because it's part of the same sentence.

"Greek mythology, along with the Bible, is the foundation of Western literature," Mr. Jones continued. "Everyone who wants to understand literature should spend some time studying both."

• This is another example of a divided quote. In this example, the second part of the quote IS capitalized because it begins a new sentence.

. and , and quotesPeriods and commas at the end of quotes always go inside quotation marks.

• "Please open your books now," said Mr. Jones.

• Mr. Jones said, "Please open your books now."

• If the comma comes before the quote, then it won't be inside the quotation marks.

? and ! and quotes

If a quotation is a question or exclamation, place the ? or ! inside the quotes.

• "Where is the television remote?" asked Cody.

• "I haven't been able to find it for a week!" exclaimed Marisa.

? and ! and quotesIf the quoted material is not a question or exclamation, then place the ? or ! outside the quotes.

• Did Devin say, "Check between the cushions on the couch"?

What is in the quotes is not the question. The entire sentence is the question.

• I can't believe Devin said, "I hid it just to make everyone mad"!

What is in the quotes is not exclamatory. The entire sentence is exclamatory.

Indirect quotes

An indirect quote tells what someone said without using that person's exact words. It often starts with the word tha! and does not require a comma or quotation marks.

• Direct quote: Kim said, "Georgia is north of Florida, and it is south of North Carolina and Tennessee."

• Indirect quote: Kim said that Georgia is north of Florida and south of Tennessee and North Carolina.

Italics (or underlining if you're writing by hand)

Titles of large works are italicized (or underlined if handwritten).

• Books - The Hunger Games, Twiligh!

• Magazines - Seventeen, Reader's Diges!

• Newspapers - the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Calhoun Times

• Notice that "the" is not italicized because it's not part of the title

• Plays - Romeo and Juliet, Pygmalio$

• Movies - World War Z, The Clash of the Titans

• TV series - The Walking Dead, Pretty Little Liars

• Titles of Albums (CDs) - It Won't Be Soon Before Long

Quotation Marks for Titles of Short WorksTitles of short (or smaller) works are placed in quotations

• Chapters in books - "The Chief Rabbit" (from Watership Dow$)

• Short stories - "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson

• Articles in magazines - "The Time Bomb Boyfriend" (from Seventee$)

• Articles in newspapers - "Gas Line Explosions Force East Georgia Evacuations" (from the Atlanta Journal-Constitutio$)

• Songs on albums - "Infatuation" (from It Won't Be Soon Before Long)

The easy way to remember whether you italicize or put something in quotes is this:

The big things (books, magazines, newspapers, albums, movies) are italicized.

The smaller parts of the big things (chapter in a book, article in a newspaper or magazine, song from an album) are put in quotation marks.

Your turn to practice. Punctuate the following sentences:

1. Have you read the latest issue of Sports Illustrated?

2. The drama club is presenting Arthur Miller's play The Crucible.

3. The teacher asked Who has read the novel A Day No Pigs Would Die?

4. Jack London uses irony in his short story To Build a Fire.

5. My brother can play the song Smoke on the Water on his guitar.

6. I'm not sure said Vivian that I did the assignment correctly.

The Answers1. Have you read the latest issue of Sports I%ustrated? (would be

underlined if you were writing by hand)

2. The drama club is presenting Arthur Miller's play The Crucibl&.

3. The teacher asked, "Who has read the novel A Day No Pigs Would Di&?" (Notice the ? is inside quotes because what's in the quotes is a question)

4. Jack London uses irony in his short story "To Build a Fire." (Notice the . is inside the quotes.)

5. My brother can play the song "Smoke on the Water" on his guitar.

6. " I'm not sure," said Vivian, "that I did the assignment correctly."

More practice. Punctuate the following sentences with end marks

and quotation marks. Capitalize words that need it.

1. Did you just I'm a big fan of arachnids and reptiles

2. Paul asked is that the crescent moon

3. I think it's the first quarter I replied

4. Jeremy said that he will pick us up at noon

5. My favorite chapter in our history book is The Age of the Revolution

6. Do you have plans tonight asked Danielle we are going to the movies if you want to come

The Answers1. Did you just say, "I'm a big fan of arachnids and reptiles"?

2. Paul asked, "Is that the crescent moon?"

3. "I think it's the first quarter," I replied.

4. Jeremy said that he will pick us up at noon.

5. My favorite chapter in our history book is "The Age of the Revolution."

6. "Do you have plans tonight?" asked Danielle. We are going to the movies if you want to come."