E
JERICHO
HIGH
SCHOOL
ENGLISH
NAME ____________________________
PERIOD ___________
DATE ___________
MRS. MCDERMOTT
GRAMMAR,
MECHANICS
& USAGE
Quotations (2.1)
Use quotation marks to enclose what someone says.
When you use someone’s exact words, that is called a direct quotation.
Mario said, “Get me a Coke,” and Luigi replied, “Get it yourself.”
My math teacher said, with a frown on her face, “Three plus three does not equal 33,
and I suspect you were pulling my leg.”
Do not use quotation marks with indirect quotations.
Wrong: Lisa said that she “wants a dwarf killer whale for a pet.” I’m telling you about what
Lisa said, but I’m not using her exact words.)
Right: Lisa said that she wants a dwarf killer whale for a pet.
Also Right: Lisa said, “I want a dwarf killer whale for a pet.” (Now I’m using Lisa’s exact words;
this is a direct quotation.)
Wrong: I told John to, “Finish his homework.”
Right: I told John to finish his homework.
If a quotation is half-direct and half-indirect, don’t use quotation marks unless you want to emphasize
the quotation.
Wrong: The newspaper called Josh, “The hero of the game.”
Right: The newspaper called Josh the hero of the game.
Also Right: The newspaper called Josh “the hero of the game.” (Notice there is no comma
and the is not capitalized.)
Also Right: The newspaper said, “Josh Solomon was the hero of the game.”
Wrong: Alexa referred to her horse as, “A magnificent white steed.”
Right: Alexa referred to her horse as a magnificent white steed.
Also Right: Alexa referred to her horse as a “magnificent white steed.” (Notice there is no
comma and magnificent is not capitalized.
Also Right: Alexa said, “My horse is a magnificent white steed.”
Thoughts or questions in someone’s mind (in other words, ideas not spoken out loud) do not need
quotation marks.
Wrong: “Will I survive this bungee jump?” Austin wondered.
Right: Will I survive this bungee jump? Austin wondered. (You may also italicize the thought
to set it apart: Will I survive this bungee jump? Austin wondered.)
Wrong: I’ve asked myself many times “why eat vegetables?”
Right: I’ve asked myself many times, why eat vegetables?
Use quotation marks to suggest doubt or skepticism.
You call this a “bicycle”? I call it a pile of rusty metal.
The teacher said we did “okay” on the test—whatever that means.
Use quotation marks, underlining or, best of all, italics for words used as words.
Wrong: That is a pronoun, I is a pronoun, and you is not a verb.
Right: “That” is a pronoun, “I” is a pronoun, and “you” is not a verb.
Also Right: That is a pronoun, I is a pronoun, and you is not a verb.
Wrong: The words a lot are often incorrectly written as alot.
Right: The words “a lot” are often incorrectly written as “alot.”
Also Right: The words a lot are often incorrectly written as alot.
Use quotation marks for definitions.
A principle is “a basic truth or a standard of good behavior”; a principal is “one who holds a
position of presiding rank, especially the head of a school.”
Use quotation marks for sayings.
My mom loves to use the saying “every dog has its day.”
“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch” means don’t act like something you hope
might happen is a sure bet.
Use quotation marks for labels, markings, signs, etc.
Notice there are no commas before or after these quotation marks.
I’m confused. This stoplight says “stop” and that one says “go.”
Use quotation marks to indicate the clever or silly use of a word.
I am “a-maized” how good this corn tastes!
Punctuating Quotations
Kate said, “Hello.”
 Use a comma before the opening quotation mark.
 Use a capital letter to begin the quotation.
 Put the period inside the closing quotation mark.
“I’m hungry,” Kate said, “and I’m dying for some chocolate-covered pickles. Do you have any around
here?”
 Put the comma inside the quotation mark.
 Use a comma (not a period) after said because Kate’s first sentence is still going on.
 Do not capitalize and—this is not a new sentence. This is still part of Kate’s first sentence.
 Do not put a closing quotation mark after pickles. Kate is still talking. Don’t use the closing
quotation mark until she’s finished.
 Capitalize do—it begins a new sentence.
“Help!” cried Kate. “Without chocolate-covered pickles, I’ll surely starve.”
 Use a period (not a comma) after Kate because Kate is saying two separate sentences.
 Capitalize without—it begins a new sentence that Kate is saying.
Be careful with commas, periods, colons, and semicolons.
Commas and periods always go inside the quotation mark.
Wrong: Michael said, “Let’s go”, and we did.
Right: Michael said, “Let’s go,” and we did.
Wrong: The title of the song is “River of Dreams”.
Right: The title of the song is “River of Dreams.”
Colons and semicolons always go outside the question mark.
Wrong: Catherine said, “I’ll clean my room;” now we’ll see if she means it.
Right: Catherine said, “I’ll clean my room”; now we’ll see if she means it.
If you have a quotation within a quotation, use single quotation marks around it.
Right: Parker said, “My mom said, ‘No way!’ “
Right: Parked said, “My mom said, ‘No way!’ so I guess we can’t go.”
If several different speakers are quoted, start a new paragraph for each new speaker.
The New York Public Library opened into a tall, echoing entranceway with marble
columns and a stately feel. The girls looked at each other, surprised by the grandeur. “Can you
believe it?” asked Allison.
“No,” Becky shook her head. “It feels like a holy place.”
“I know. I feel like we should use our library voices.”
Both girls giggled. “So, Becky,” Allison asked as they moved toward the palace-like
staircase. “Do you think we’ll become famous writers?”
“I don’t know, maybe.”
Quotations that are questions can be tricky.
If only the quotation is a question:
Wrong: Austin asked, “Is that you”?
Right: Austin asked, “Is that you?”
If the whole sentence is a question:
Wrong: Are you the one who yelled, “Help?”
Right: Are you the one who yelled, “Help”?
Quotations that are exclamations can also be tricky.
If only the quotation is an exclamation:
Wrong: I think he’s the one who yelled, “Fire”!
Right: I think he’s the one who yelled, “Fire!”
If a quotation from one person is longer than one paragraph, there is no closing quotation mark until
the very end of the quotation.
Independent Practice: Find the mistakes in these sentences and correct them.
1. “Hi, Wesley”, said Ryan.
2. Wesley replied, “Hi, Ryan”.
3. “I’m looking for my shoes,” said Sarah, “I’m sure I left them somewhere in this room.”
4. “I would do almost anything for you, Mom,” said Josh. “Except take out the trash.”
5. “How are you?”, I asked Erica.
6. I read the poem “Ode to a Toad;” I liked it a lot.
7. Meg asked whether she “could sleep over at Eliza’s house.”
8. I was sad when she yelled, ‘I hate you”!
9. Did you ask, “Why me”?
10. Dad gave me “big bucks” (two “whole” dollars) to spend at the “card show.”
11. Bill said, “Becca said, yes, I’ll help you, but she didn’t.”
12. “When will it be time for dinner?” I wonder.