Quote marks
- Shira Nagel
Use single quotation marks to show direct speech and the quoted work of other writers. For quotes within quotes use double quotes.
- She said, ‘Our style is to use single quotes, with double quotes for “quotes within quotes”.’
If there is a quote within a quote within a quote, use single, double, single (this sequence can be repeated).
Use single quotation marks for enclosing the title of an unpublished document, a chapter in a published work, an article, an essay, a lecture, a short poem or a song.
- In the lyrics to 'American Pie', Don McLean…
Be wary of overusing quote marks for emphasis (or in irony) as they can clutter the writing or be misinterpreted. They may be useful when introducing new terms, to distinguish the word in a longer sentence.
Example The medical treatment of 'androgen insensitivity syndrome' is controversial.
Quotations that are more than about 30 words long should be set in a separate paragraph, usually indented and in a smaller font. No quotation marks should be used.