1. Quotation Marks
English 7

2. A direct quotation is a report of a speaker’s EXACT words.
Use quotation marks at the beginning and ending of a direct quotation.
Example: Mrs. Turner said, “Stop talking.”

3. An indirect quote is when a person’s words are paraphrased and not exact.
Example: Mrs. Turner told everyone to be quiet.

4. Never use quotation marks with an indirect quote.
Example:
Direct Quote: Mrs. Turner said, “Mark Twain is a good writer”.
Indirect quote: Mrs. Turner talked about how Mark Twain is a good writer.

5. Commas and periods always go inside of the quotation marks.
If a quotation is a question or an exclamation, place the question mark or exclamation point inside of the quotation marks.
Example: “What did Mrs. Turner say?” I asked.

6. If quoted words are part of a question or exclamation of your own, place the question or exclamation point outside of the quotation marks.
Example: What makes Mark Twain such a “good writer”?

7. Use commas to separate explanatory words used with direct quotations.
Examples:
Mrs. Turner said, “Stop talking.”
“Students,” said Mrs. Turner, “stop talking.”
“Stop talking,” said Mrs. Turner

8. Use quotation marks to enclose both parts of a divided direct quotation.
Example: “Mark Twain,” she said, “is a good writer.”

9. Do not capitalize the first word of a new quotation unless it begins a new sentence.
Example: “Mark Twain,” she said, “wrote many books.”
“Mark Twain wrote many books,” she said. “I have read several of them.”