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Divided Quotations Explained

The document outlines the rules for using quotation marks, emphasizing their importance in indicating direct quotes and titles. It provides examples of correct and incorrect usage, including capitalization, punctuation placement, and handling of divided quotations. Key points include placing periods inside quotation marks and capitalizing the first word of a direct quote in dialogue.

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6 views1 page

Divided Quotations Explained

The document outlines the rules for using quotation marks, emphasizing their importance in indicating direct quotes and titles. It provides examples of correct and incorrect usage, including capitalization, punctuation placement, and handling of divided quotations. Key points include placing periods inside quotation marks and capitalizing the first word of a direct quote in dialogue.

Uploaded by

paclijanhera1
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Using Quotation Marks (September 22, 2025)

When you use quotation marks, you let readers know the exact statement that you lifted from a source.
They are also used for some titles. Here are some rules on the use of quotation marks.

You must use quotation marks to begin and end the direct quotations and to set off titles.

INCORRECT:
The narrator in Crow Call had never gone hunting. Zig Ziglar, America’s greatest motivational writer, said, The
poorest of all men is the one without a dream.

CORRECT:
The narrator in “Crow Call” had never gone hunting. Zig Ziglar, America’s greatest motivational writer, said, “The
poorest of all men is the one without a dream.”

In a dialog, you need to capitalize the first letter of the first word of a direct quotation.

INCORRECT:
The waitress, who questioned whether they really wanted three pieces of pie, said, “you mean two?”

CORRECT:
The waitress, who questioned whether they really wanted three pieces of pie, said, “You mean two?”

USAGE TIP:
In using quoted words from written source which are not complete sentences, you can begin with a small letter.

EXAMPLE:
Mark Twain said that cauliflower was “nothing but cabbage with a college education.”

End Punctuation. Place periods inside quotation marks. If exclamation points and question marks belong to the
direct quotation, you need to place them inside the quotation marks. If they are not part of the quotation, place
them outside the quotation marks. Place semicolons outside quotation marks.

INCORRECT:
I said to my brother, “I would have been nervous too”! “Are you saying you’re not brave”? he said.
I responded, “Not really;” I added that I had enjoyed “Crow Call.”

CORRECT:
I said to my brother, “I would have been nervous too!” “Are you saying you’re not brave?” he said.
I responded, “Not really”; I added that I enjoyed “Crow Call”.

If the quotation is a complete sentence and is followed by some descriptive words, you need to use a comma at the
end of the quotation.

EXAMPLE:

“Have a good day,” I said to the waitress as we left.

Divided Quotations. If a quotation starts a new sentence, the first letter of the first words needs to be in capital
letters.

INCORRECT:
“I know,” he said. “are you scared?”

CORRECT:
“I know,” he said. “Are you scared?”

USAGE TIP. If a capital letter would not be used, then do not use one in the divided quotation.

Do not capitalize the first word of the second part of a divided quotation if it does not begin a new sentence.

EXAMPLE:

“Okay,” my father said, “you can do the crow call now.”

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