What are Quotation Marks?
Quotation marks (also called inverted commas or speech marks) are used in three distinct contexts: enclosing exact spoken or written words (direct speech and quotations), marking titles of short or contained works, and signalling that a word or phrase is being used in a special, borrowed, or ironic sense. Using them outside these three contexts — for emphasis or decoration — is always an error.
British and American English use different default quotation mark styles. British English uses single quotation marks (' ') as the default, with double marks (" ") for a quotation within a quotation. American English uses double marks as default, with single marks for a nested quotation. Either style is acceptable in IELTS as long as it is used consistently.
Quotation marks are not used for indirect speech, paraphrases, or widely known expressions. 'She said that the meeting was cancelled' is indirect speech — no quotation marks. Adding quotation marks to emphasise a word ('a very 'good' result') is called scare-quote misuse when the irony is unclear, and should be used sparingly.
Three Uses of Quotation Marks
Before adding quotation marks, identify which of the three uses applies. If none applies, do not use them.
Direct speech / Short work title / Special or borrowed term — each requires quotation marks for a specific reasonUse 1 — Direct Speech and Quotations
| Type | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Direct speech (exact words spoken) | She said, 'The deadline cannot be moved.' | Comma before the opening mark; period/punctuation inside (American) or outside (British) the closing mark. |
| Quoted text from a source | The report states that 'the data remains inconclusive'. | Integrate short quotations into your sentence with quotation marks. |
| Quote within a quote | He replied, 'She told me, "the meeting is cancelled," and left.' | British: outer single, inner double. American: outer double, inner single. |
Use 2 — Titles of Short or Contained Works
| Work type | Quotation marks | Contrast: no quotation marks |
|---|---|---|
| Journal article | 'The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Wellbeing' | Journal name: italics — Nature, The Lancet |
| Book chapter | 'Chapter 3: Methodology' | Book title: italics — The Great Gatsby |
| Song | 'Bohemian Rhapsody' | Album: italics — A Night at the Opera |
| TV episode | 'The Rains of Castamere' | TV series: italics — Game of Thrones |
| Short poem | 'The Road Not Taken' | Book-length poem: italics — Paradise Lost |
Use 3 — Special or Borrowed Terms
| Type | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Technical term introduced for the first time | This process is known as 'scaffolding'. | After first introduction, use the term without marks. |
| Scare quotes / irony / distancing | The 'investigation' lasted less than 24 hours. | Signals the writer doubts the word is accurate. Use sparingly. |
| Word as a word (mention vs use) | The word 'however' is a conjunctive adverb. | Also acceptable: italics for words mentioned as words. |
Key Quotation Mark Contexts
Titles — quotation marks vs italics
The rule for titles is containment. Short works that are contained within a larger publication take quotation marks. Longer, standalone works take italics. This distinction applies consistently: a song is in an album, a chapter is in a book, an article is in a journal — the contained work gets quotation marks.
- Article in a journal: She cited 'The Long-Term Effects of Remote Work' from the Harvard Business Review.
- Journal title (italics, no quotes): published in The Economist
- Song in an album: The set opened with 'Comfortably Numb'.
- Album (italics): released on The Wall
Scare quotes — use sparingly
Scare quotes signal irony, distance, or doubt — they tell the reader: I am using this word, but I do not necessarily endorse it. They are legitimate in journalistic and critical writing but should be rare in academic writing. Overusing them makes the writer seem evasive rather than precise.
- Irony: The committee's 'thorough investigation' produced results within two hours.
- Borrowed or contested term: What the report calls 'sustainable growth' is defined differently by three competing organisations.
- Avoid: The project was a 'great' success. (here 'great' is just emphasis — remove the quotes)
Quotation Mark Warning Signals
Direct Speech vs Indirect Speech
Quotation marks enclose direct speech — exact words. Indirect speech is reported and paraphrased — no quotation marks.
Direct speech — quotation marks
She announced, 'The funding has been approved.'
Exact words, enclosed in quotation marks, preceded by a comma.
Indirect speech — no quotation marks
She announced that the funding had been approved.
Paraphrase of the words. No quotation marks. Tense shifts from present to past (backshift).
Common Mistakes
Using quotation marks for emphasis
✗ The results were 'very' significant. / We offer 'premium' quality service.
The results were very significant. / We offer premium quality service.
Quotation marks are not for emphasis. Using them this way implies the opposite of what is intended — scare quotes signal irony or doubt. If you want emphasis in writing, use bold (sparingly) or restructure the sentence.
Quotation marks around indirect speech
✗ He said that 'the project would be completed on time'.
He said that the project would be completed on time. / He said, 'The project will be completed on time.'
'He said that' introduces indirect speech, which is paraphrased, not quoted. Either remove the quotation marks (keep it indirect) or restructure as direct speech.
Mixing British and American quotation mark styles
✗ She said, "The report was 'inconclusive.'" and left the room. (mixing outer double with inner single inconsistently)
British: She said, 'The report was "inconclusive".' / American: She said, "The report was 'inconclusive.'"
Choose one style and apply it consistently. British: outer single, inner double. American: outer double, inner single.
Using quotation marks for long titles that should be italicised
✗ She referenced 'The Economist' and 'Pride and Prejudice' extensively.
She referenced The Economist and Pride and Prejudice extensively.
Standalone publications (journals, books, newspapers, films) take italics, not quotation marks. Quotation marks are for short works contained within a larger publication.
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