Quick Answer
Use quotation marks around someone’s exact words, titles of short works, and words used in a special sense. In American English, periods and commas go inside the closing quotation mark, colons and semicolons go outside, and question marks and exclamation points go inside only if they belong to the quote.
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Quotation marks look simple but trip people up constantly — especially where the period or comma goes. Here’s the full rule set, with the one table most people actually need up front.
Punctuation With Quotation Marks: Cheat Sheet
| Mark | American English | British English | Example (US) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Period . | Always inside | Inside only if part of the quote | He said, “Let’s go.” |
| Comma , | Always inside | Inside only if part of the quote | “Let’s go,” he said. |
| Colon : | Always outside | Always outside | She had one rule for “quiet hours”: no music. |
| Semicolon ; | Always outside | Always outside | He called it “a disaster”; I disagreed. |
| Question mark ? | Inside if the quote is a question | Same | She asked, “Are you coming?” Did she say “I quit”? |
| Exclamation point ! | Inside if the quote is an exclamation | Same | He yelled, “Stop!” I can’t believe she said “no”! |
12 Quotation Marks Rules (With Examples)
1. Use quotation marks for exact words
Enclose someone’s exact spoken or written words: She said, “I’ll be there by noon.”
2. Don’t use them for indirect speech
Reported speech gets no quotation marks: She said she would be there by noon.
3. Capitalize the first word of a full-sentence quote
The manager said, “We close early on Fridays.” But don’t capitalize a fragment woven into your sentence: The manager called Fridays “the best day of the week.”
4. Use a comma to introduce or end a quote with a dialogue tag
He said, “I’m ready.” / “I’m ready,” he said. Skip the comma when the quote flows into the sentence with that: He said that the plan was “basically finished.”
5. Periods and commas go inside (American English)
Even when they aren’t part of the quoted words: The sign said “Closed,” so we left.
6. Colons and semicolons go outside
We read “The Raven”; it was creepier than expected.
7. Question marks and exclamation points depend on the quote
Inside if they belong to the quoted material (“Where are you?” she asked). Outside if they belong to your sentence (Who said “trust me”?). Never double up — use one mark only.
8. Use single quotation marks for a quote within a quote
She said, “He told me, ‘I’ll be late.'”
9. Put quotation marks around titles of short works
Songs, poems, articles, short stories, chapters, and TV episodes: “The Road Not Taken.” Long works — books, movies, albums, TV series — get italics instead.
10. Use them for words used in a special sense (sparingly)
Scare quotes signal irony or an unusual use: His “apology” was really an excuse. Use them rarely — they read as sarcasm.
11. Don’t use quotation marks for emphasis
“Fresh” donuts on a sign makes readers wonder how fresh they really are. Use bold or italics for emphasis.
12. For multi-paragraph quotes, open each paragraph but close only the last
Each new paragraph of the same speaker starts with an opening quotation mark; the closing mark appears only at the end of the final paragraph.
Single vs. Double Quotation Marks
American English: double marks for a quote, single marks for a quote inside it.
British English: usually the reverse — single marks first, double marks nested inside.
Also: “smart” (curly) quotes “ ” are standard in published text; “straight” quotes ” ” are fine in code and plain text. Don’t mix them in the same document.
Formatting Dialogue
Start a new paragraph every time the speaker changes, even for one-word replies:
“Are you coming?” she asked.
“Not yet,” he said.
When a dialogue tag interrupts a sentence, use commas on both sides and keep the second half lowercase: “I was going to call,” she said, “but my phone died.”
Long Quotes: Use a Block Quotation Instead
Long quotations drop the quotation marks entirely and are set off as an indented block. The length cutoff depends on the style guide:
- APA: 40 words or more
- MLA: more than four lines of prose
- Chicago: about 100 words or more
Common Quotation Mark Mistakes
- Period outside in American English:
She said “yes”.→ She said “yes.” - Double punctuation:
Did he ask, “Are you okay?”?→ Did he ask, “Are you okay?” - Quotes for emphasis:
We are “open” Sunday.→ We are open Sunday. - Quoting a paraphrase: If you changed the words, it’s not a quote — drop the marks.
- Forgetting to close the quote. Every opening mark needs a matching closing mark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the period go inside or outside quotation marks?
In American English, always inside. In British English, inside only if it’s part of the original quote.
Does the question mark go inside or outside quotation marks?
Inside if the quoted words are a question; outside if your whole sentence is the question.
When do I use single quotation marks?
In American English, for a quote nested inside another quote. In British English, single marks are the default.
Do book titles go in quotation marks?
No. Books, movies, and albums are italicized. Quotation marks are for short works like articles, songs, poems, and chapters.
Do you need a comma before a quotation?
Yes, after a dialogue tag like “she said.” No, when the quote is blended into the sentence (He called it “a win”).
Related: how to use an ellipsis in a quote · em dash · all punctuation marks
Quick Practice
Three quick questions. See what stuck.
1. Which is correctly punctuated (American English)?
2. Titles of short works (like a poem or article) get:
3. A quote within a quote uses: