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Quotations Within Quotations
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Almost all of us have found ourselves confused with double and single
quotation marks. When do we use single quotation marks? Where does the
punctuation go with single quotation marks? With just a few rules and
examples, you will feel surer about your decisions.
Rule:
Use single quotation marks inside double quotation marks when you have a
quotation within a quotation.
Example:
Bobbi told me, “Delia said, ‘This will never work.’ ”
Notice that what Delia said was enclosed in single quotation marks. Notice
also that the period was placed inside both the single and the double
quotation marks. The American rule is that periods always go inside all
quotation marks.
As a courtesy, make sure there is visible space at the start or end of a
quotation between adjacent single and double quotation marks.
Example: Bobbi said, “I read the article, ‘A Poor Woman’s Journey.’ ”
Rule:
Question marks and quotation marks, unlike periods, follow logic with their
placement. If a quote inside a quote is a question or exclamation, place
the question mark or exclamation mark inside the single quotation marks.
Examples:
Bobbi said, “Delia asked, ‘Will this remote control work on
my TV?’ ”
Bobbi said, “Delia shouted, ‘Get your hands off me!’
”
Rule:
If the question is inside the double quotation marks, place the question
mark between the single and double quotation marks.
Example:
Bobbi asked, “Did Delia say, ‘This will never
work’?”
(Because you will rarely need an exclamation mark within the double
quotation marks and not within the single quotation marks, there is little
sense discussing this.)
Rule:
In the above three examples, only one ending punctuation mark was used with
the quotation marks. The rule is that the “stronger” mark wins.
Question marks and exclamation marks are considered stronger than the period.
Period!
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Wordplay
"Creative" (i.e., incorrect) use of quotation marks.
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