Word
quotation marks
Definition
n. the punctuation symbols used to show the exact words someone said or wrote. In English, these look like small pairs of marks (' ' or " ") around a sentence.
n. a pair of punctuation marks used to indicate the beginning and end of a quotation or to highlight a specific term or title. Usually appears as double marks in American English or single marks in British English.
Examples
“Remember to put quotation marks around the speaker's words.”
“The student lost points on the essay because they forgot to use quotation marks when citing the textbook.”
“In academic writing, quotation marks are essential for distinguishing between the author's own analysis and the specific evidentiary phrases borrowed from external sources.”
Examples
simple
“Remember to put quotation marks around the speaker's words.”
contextual
“The student lost points on the essay because they forgot to use quotation marks when citing the textbook.”
complex
“In academic writing, quotation marks are essential for distinguishing between the author's own analysis and the specific evidentiary phrases borrowed from external sources.”
Usage
Always used as a pair; the plural form takes a plural verb agreement.
Pitfall
She said 'I am tired.
She said, 'I am tired.'
Learners often forget to close the quotation marks or fail to include the final punctuation mark inside them.
Related words
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/quotation-marks