Quotation marks are of two kinds - double (" ") and single (' ').

XXXVI. Double quotation marks inclose the exact words of a speaker or writer.

We heard him say, "All is well."

XXXVII. Single quotation marks inclose a quotation within a quotation.

This was his answer: "I agree with Falstaff that 'the better part of valor is discretion.'"

"Being asked by a young nobleman what was become of the gallantry and military spirit of the old English nobility, he [Samuel Johnson] replied, 'Why, my Lord, I'll tell you what has become of it: it is gone into the city to look for a fortune.,"

"One of the first aims of college life is increase of power: be he scholar or athlete, the sound undergraduate learns to meet difficulties; 'stumbling blocks,' in the words of an admirable preacher, 'become stepping stones.'"

When paragraphs are quoted, the quotation marks are placed at the beginning of each paragraph and at the end of the last paragraph.

XXXVIII. The title of a book or paper may be quoted or italicized, as the writer prefers. Some prefer "The House of the Seven Gables"; others, The House of the Seven Gables.

XXXIX. Quotation marks are sometimes used to call attention to special words.

The word "ain't" is never heard in good conversation.

Exercises

118. Copy from dictation the three sentences quoted above under xxxvii. Explain the brackets in the second sentence.

119. Write (1) a portion of a real or an imagined conversation at breakfast or dinner, or (2) a short conversation between two girls about a skating party, or (3) a short conversation between two boys about a game of football. Begin a new paragraph whenever the speaker changes.

120. Write your opinion of some book or of a portion of it, introducing an interesting quotation from it.

121. Exchange papers, examine as in Exercise 115, and consider in addition the use of quotation marks.