# Improper use of quotation marks. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 30, 2004, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improper-use-of-quotation-marks/242770 "2004-04-30T00:40:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improper-use-of-quotation-marks/242770/41 "2004-05-01T04:20:34Z")
Well, that’s what I get for replying before reading what other folks have already said. ::points upthread:: uh, what they said, I’m concurring. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improper-use-of-quotation-marks/242770/42 "2004-05-01T05:42:12Z")
My favorite misuse of quotation marks is a sign I’ve seen MORE THAN ONCE! “Absolutely” No Parking! And these people are allowed to have children? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improper-use-of-quotation-marks/242770/43 "2004-05-01T05:50:07Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > **ouryL** : > > I disagree, and I hail from a time when virtually no form of online communication let you do italics or boldface. > > If you wanted to underline a word you did _this_. > > If you wanted to boldface or italicize a word you did _this_. > > If you were a blithering idiot you did “this”. This has nothing to do with early online convention - the indications discussed long predate that, coming from the use of typewriters. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improper-use-of-quotation-marks/242770/44 "2004-05-01T15:08:09Z")
> [@mailman](#): > > AND SHE USED QUOTES “ALL THE TIME” “FOR NO GOOD REASON” OTHER THAN THAT SHE “FELT” LIKE IT. Well, everything she was writing was kind of like she was “saying” it. So shouldn’t it be in quotes? “I’ve heard this used as a genuine excuse for quote abuse.” ---
**Author:** ![carterba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85e7bf/32.png) [@carterba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carterba)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improper-use-of-quotation-marks/242770/45 "2004-05-01T15:52:00Z")
When I lived in Kansas City, I saw quotes used for emphasis a lot. Or should I say “a lot”? My favorite example: Praise “Jesus” Another example: “All” of your mothers don’t work here. Clean up after yourself! I was never able to parse that one. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improper-use-of-quotation-marks/242770/46 "2004-05-01T19:09:03Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > Hmmm > > No such thing as underlining > > I guess I’ll have to practice my italics next time I write a note in longhand. You laugh at me, but I’ll have you know I do use italics when I take notes in class. I practiced the skill during an extremely dull class. It has stood me well. 🙂 Anyway, underlining is a kludge for italics when they’re not available, like I said. If your handwriting skills are less than mine, I’d say writing by hand would be a perfect opportunity. Just don’t underline in a print document. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improper-use-of-quotation-marks/242770/47 "2004-05-01T23:42:36Z")
> [@John Carter of Mars](#): > > After you “loose” it, where does it go? 😃 “Damn” you, Gaudere’s Law! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improper-use-of-quotation-marks/242770/48 "2004-05-02T00:04:35Z")
Also, please try to remember that end punctuation stays within the quote marks. Ex. John said, “Those quotes are being misused”! ----This is wrong. John said, “That’s much better.”—This is correct. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improper-use-of-quotation-marks/242770/49 "2004-05-02T00:22:33Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > Also, please try to remember that end punctuation stays within the quote marks. > > Ex. > > John said, “Those quotes are being misused”! ----This is wrong. > > John said, “That’s much better.”—This is correct. In the examples you gave, yes, but that’s not always the case, “Indygrrl”! Don’t the rules vary depending on what kind of punctuation you’re using and whether they apply to the whole sentence or just the “quotation part”? ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improper-use-of-quotation-marks/242770/50 "2004-05-02T00:25:12Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > Also, please try to remember that end punctuation stays within the quote marks. > > Ex. > > John said, “Those quotes are being misused”! ----This is wrong. > > John said, “That’s much better.”—This is correct. Yes, but end punctuation does go outside of inverted commas, where they punctuate the entire sentence, which are what they use in the UK! John said ‘Those Yanks might say “Those quotes are being misused”, but they’d be wrong’. John shouted ‘You Yanks don’t know inverted commas from a hole in the ground!’ It would really be something if Indygrrl admitted ‘I was wrong’! 😉 Disclaimer: I am not actually in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improper-use-of-quotation-marks/242770/51 "2004-05-02T00:28:05Z")
That first sentence was a bit awkward. Try reading, _Yeas, but in cases where the end punctuation punctuates the entire sentence, it does go outside of inverted commas, which are what they use in the UK._ ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improper-use-of-quotation-marks/242770/52 "2004-05-02T00:29:48Z")
“AAARRRGGGGGGGGGHHH!” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2004, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improper-use-of-quotation-marks/242770/53 "2004-05-02T00:59:27Z")
> [@Thudlow Boink](#): > > In the examples you gave, yes, but that’s not always the case, “Indygrrl”! Don’t the rules vary depending on what kind of punctuation you’re using and whether they apply to the whole sentence or just the “quotation part”? Going by AP Style, the rules are as such: > [@](#): > > **For direct quotations** : To surround the exact words of a speaker to writer when reported in a story: > > “I have no intention of staying,” he replied. > > "A speculator said the practice is “too conservative for inflationary times.” > > Placement with other punctuation: > > Follow these long-established printers’ rules: > –The period and the comma always go within quotation marks. > –The dash, the semicolon, the question mark and the exclamation point go within the quotation marks when they apply to the quoted matter only. They go outside when they apply to the whole sentence. BUT, I think it might be different in Chicago style, which is what I use on a day to day basis. Hmm. I guess I better find out. Too bad I don’t have my manual here at home. If anyone does, please enlighten us on end puntuation with regard to quotations. I’d hate to think I’ve been doing it wrong all this time. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improper-use-of-quotation-marks/242770.md?page=2)