Including Quotation Marks within Quoted Text: Best Practices

_{September 29, 2023 by JoyAnswer.org, Category : Language}

How to put quotation marks inside quotations? Discover how to correctly incorporate quotation marks within quoted text for clarity and proper punctuation.

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How to put quotation marks inside quotations?

When you need to include quotation marks within a piece of quoted text, you use a combination of single and double quotation marks to distinguish between the outer quotation (typically enclosed in double quotation marks) and the inner quotation (enclosed in single quotation marks). This helps clarify the boundaries of each quotation. Here's how to do it:

1. Use Double Quotation Marks for the Outer Quotation:

Enclose the entire quotation, including the inner quotation, with double quotation marks.

2. Use Single Quotation Marks for the Inner Quotation:

Enclose the quoted text within the outer quotation with single quotation marks.

Here's an example to illustrate this:

Original Sentence:She said, "John told me, 'I'll be there at 3 o'clock.'"

In this sentence:

The outer quotation is "She said, 'John told me, 'I'll be there at 3 o'clock.'"
The inner quotation is 'I'll be there at 3 o'clock.'

By using single quotation marks for the inner quotation, you make it clear which words are directly quoted from the source (the inner quotation) and which words are part of your sentence or statement (the outer quotation).

Here are a few more examples:

Direct Quotation within a Sentence:
- Original Sentence: The book's title is "A 'Brief' History of Time."
- Quoted Text: "A 'Brief' History of Time"
- Explanation: The single quotation marks around 'Brief' indicate that this word is enclosed in double quotation marks within the original title.
Nested Quotations:
- Original Sentence: He said, "She told me, 'I can't believe he said, "I won't be late."'"
- Quoted Text: "I can't believe he said, 'I won't be late.'"
- Explanation: There are nested quotations within this sentence, with single quotation marks inside double quotation marks.

When using this method, make sure to be consistent with your use of single and double quotation marks and follow the conventions of the style guide or publication you are writing for, as preferences may vary between different style guides (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago Manual of Style).

Punctuating Quotations: How to Include Quotation Marks Within Quotes

When you need to include quotation marks within quotes, also known as nested quotes, you should use single quotation marks for the inner quotes and double quotation marks for the outer quotes.

Examples:

"I'm going to the store," she said.
"Is it okay if I'm a couple minutes late to class today?" he asked.
"'The best investments today,'" according to Smith, "'are commodities and emerging-market stocks.'"

This rule applies to both American English and British English.

Inside the Quotation Marks: A Guide to Nested Quotes and Punctuation

Here are some additional tips for punctuating nested quotes:

If the inner quotes are a complete sentence, they should start with a capital letter and end with a period.
If the inner quotes are not a complete sentence, they should not start with a capital letter and should end with a comma.
If the inner quotes are a question or exclamation, the question mark or exclamation point should go inside the single quotation marks.
If the outer quotes are a question or exclamation, the question mark or exclamation point should go outside the double quotation marks.

Examples:

"I'm going to the store," she said.
"Is it okay if I'm a couple minutes late to class today?" he asked.
"'The best investments today,'" according to Smith, "'are commodities and emerging-market stocks.'"

Quoting Within Quotes: Navigating Punctuation Marks

Navigating punctuation marks when quoting within quotes can be tricky, but it is important to get it right to ensure that your writing is clear and easy to read. By following the tips above, you can be confident that you are using quotation marks and punctuation correctly.