Quotation Marks

What are quotation marks? Quotation marks are used around direct quotations: someone’s speech or writing repeated exactly, word for word. DIRECT QUOTATION: Helen asked, “Can I borrow your car?” Quotation marks are not used around indirect quotations: restatements of what someone said or wrote, not word for word. INDIRECT QUOTATION: Helen asked to borrow my car.

When referring to a short work such as a magazine or newspaper article, a chapter in a book, a short story, an essay, a song, or a poem, put quotation marks around the title of the work. When referring to a short work such as a magazine or newspaper article, a chapter in a book, a short story, an essay, a song, or a poem, put quotation marks around the title of the work. Usually, the titles of longer works are underlined or italicized. Usually, the titles of longer works are underlined or italicized. (See your textbook for more specific rules and examples for using quotation marks.)

1. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. A) My sister told me “that I must see this movie.” B) My sister told me that I must see this movie. C) My sister told me that I, “Must see this movie.” D) none of the above

1. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. ANSWER: A) My sister told me “that I must see this movie.” B) My sister told me that I must see this movie. C) My sister told me that I, “Must see this movie.” D) none of the above

2. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. A) “Sorry, no backpacks allowed,” said the security guard. B) “Sorry, no backpacks allowed” said the security guard. C) Sorry, no backpacks allowed said the security guard. D) none of the above

2. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. ANSWER: A) “Sorry, no backpacks allowed,” said the security guard. B) “Sorry, no backpacks allowed” said the security guard. C) Sorry, no backpacks allowed said the security guard. D) none of the above

3. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. A) “A little learning wrote Alexander Pope is a dangerous thing.” B) “A little learning wrote Alexander Pope,” is a dangerous thing. C) “A little learning,” wrote Alexander Pope, “is a dangerous thing.” D) none of the above

3. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. ANSWER: A) “A little learning wrote Alexander Pope is a dangerous thing.” B) “A little learning wrote Alexander Pope,” is a dangerous thing. C) “A little learning,” wrote Alexander Pope, “is a dangerous thing.” D) none of the above

4. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. A) Lola has been telling me for years that she wants to leave her job. B) Lola has been telling me “for years that she wants to leave her job.” C) Lola has been telling me for years, “that she wants to leave her job.” D) none of the above

4. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. ANSWER: A) Lola has been telling me for years that she wants to leave her job. B) Lola has been telling me “for years that she wants to leave her job.” C) Lola has been telling me for years, “that she wants to leave her job.” D) none of the above

5. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. A) “What do you mean by “minor procedure,” doctor?” asked the patient. B) ‘What do you mean by “minor procedure,” doctor?’ asked the patient. C) “What do you mean by ‘minor procedure,’ doctor?” asked the patient. D) none of the above

5. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. ANSWER: A) “What do you mean by “minor procedure,” doctor?” asked the patient. B) ‘What do you mean by “minor procedure,” doctor?’ asked the patient. C) “What do you mean by ‘minor procedure,’ doctor?” asked the patient. D) none of the above

6. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. A) The film Stand by Me was based on Stephen King’s short story The Body. B) The film Stand by Me was based on Stephen King’s short story “The Body.” C) The film Stand by Me was based on Stephen King’s short story ‘The Body.” D) none of the above

6. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. ANSWER: A) The film Stand by Me was based on Stephen King’s short story The Body. B) The film Stand by Me was based on Stephen King’s short story “The Body.” C) The film Stand by Me was based on Stephen King’s short story ‘The Body.” D) none of the above

7. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. A) “‘Piano Man’ may be the most annoying song in history,” said Benita. B) “Piano Man” “may be the most annoying song in history” said Benita. C) Piano Man may be the most annoying song in history, said Benita. D) none of the above

7. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. ANSWER: A) “‘Piano Man’ may be the most annoying song in history,” said Benita. B) “Piano Man” “may be the most annoying song in history” said Benita. C) Piano Man may be the most annoying song in history, said Benita. D) none of the above

8. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. A) I have read “the Bible” and “the Koran,” Jonas said. B) Jonas said that he has read the Bible and the Koran. C) Jonas said that “he has read the Bible and the Koran.” D) none of the above

8. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. ANSWER: A) I have read “the Bible” and “the Koran,” Jonas said. B) Jonas said that he has read the Bible and the Koran. C) Jonas said that “he has read the Bible and the Koran.” D) none of the above

9. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. A) There’s an essay about The Godfather films in this week’s New York Times. B) There’s an essay about The Godfather films in this week’s “New York Times.” C) There’s an essay about “The Godfather films” in this week’s New York Times. D) none of the above

9. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. ANSWER: A) There’s an essay about The Godfather films in this week’s New York Times. B) There’s an essay about The Godfather films in this week’s “New York Times.” C) There’s an essay about “The Godfather films” in this week’s New York Times. D) none of the above; the correct revision is There’s an essay about The Godfather films in this week’s New York Times.

10. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. A) Mr. Rivera said that he “has read all of the Harry Potter books except for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” B) Mr. Rivera said that he “has read all of the Harry Potter books except for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” C) Mr. Rivera said that he has read all of the Harry Potter books except for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. D) none of the above

10. Choose the sentence that has no errors in the use of quotation marks. ANSWER: A) Mr. Rivera said that he “has read all of the Harry Potter books except for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” B) Mr. Rivera said that he “has read all of the Harry Potter books except for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” C) Mr. Rivera said that he has read all of the Harry Potter books except for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. D) none of the above