What are quotation marks and why are they important?

Quotation marks are punctuation marks shaped like small double lines (" ") that go around exact words someone says or writes. They are important because they show readers which words are spoken or quoted, which helps make writing clear and easy to follow.

When should my child use quotation marks in writing?

Your child should use quotation marks when writing dialogue in stories, when copying someone’s exact words from a book, article, or speech, and for certain short titles such as poems, songs, and short stories. They should not use quotation marks for general ideas that are not exact wording.

How do quotation marks work with commas and periods?

In standard American English, commas and periods usually go inside the closing quotation marks. For example: "It is time to go," said Dad. or Dad said, "It is time to go." Question marks and exclamation points go inside the quotation marks if they are part of the quoted words.

What are quotation marks used for besides dialogue?

Besides dialogue, quotation marks are used for direct quotations in reports and essays, for short works like poems, songs, and short stories, and sometimes to show that a word is being talked about as a word. For example: The word "bright" can mean smart or full of light.

What Are Quotation Marks? Definition and Examples

Quotation marks explained for kids

Quotation marks are like little talking marks that hug the words someone says. They look like this: " ". You put them at the start and end of the words that are spoken. They help readers know, "These are the exact words a person said!"

Examples of quotation marks

Example 1 (younger students): showing what someone says

Sentence without quotation marks:

Mom said I am proud of you.

Corrected sentence with quotation marks around the exact words Mom said:

Mom said, "I am proud of you."

The quotation marks go right before the I and right after you. The comma comes before the opening quotation mark.

Example 2 (older students): dialogue and a short story title

Look at this short paragraph:

"Did you finish reading 'The Lost Puppy'?" asked Sam. "Yes," replied Lee, "and my favorite part was the ending."

Here is what is happening:

Quotation marks show the exact words the characters say: "Did you finish reading 'The Lost Puppy'?" and "Yes," and "and my favorite part was the ending."
Single quotation marks (' ') are used inside the main quotation marks to show the title of the short story, "The Lost Puppy".
The question mark and commas are placed inside the quotation marks because they are part of what is being said.

How quotation marks are used in school

In early grades, quotation marks are mostly used to show when a character is talking in a story. Students learn to put a pair of quotation marks around the spoken words and to use a comma to separate the speaker from the quote.

As students move into upper elementary and middle school, quotation marks are also used to show direct quotations from books, articles, or people. A direct quotation is when you copy someone’s exact words, not just the idea in your own words.

In later grades, students learn more detailed rules, such as how quotation marks work with other punctuation (commas, periods, question marks, and exclamation points), how to quote lines of poetry or dialogue in essays, and how to nest quotations inside other quotations.

Common mistakes with quotation marks

Using only one quotation mark instead of a pair. Mistake: Mom said, "Time for dinner. Correct: Mom said, "Time for dinner." Every opening quotation mark needs a matching closing quotation mark.
Putting punctuation in the wrong place. Mistake: "I love this book", said Ana. Correct: "I love this book," said Ana. In standard American English, commas and periods usually go inside the closing quotation marks.
Using quotation marks for ideas that are not exact words. Mistake: The teacher said we had "homework" about page 12. Correct: The teacher said we had homework about page 12. Use quotation marks only for the teacher’s exact words or for a special reason, not just any idea.

Quotation marks in everyday life

Quotation marks show up in many places your child sees every day. They appear in storybooks when characters talk, in text messages or chats when someone quotes a friend, in news articles when a reporter shares what a person said, and in signs or posters that highlight a short saying or slogan.

Related terms to explore

Quotation marks often work together with other punctuation and formatting choices. It can help to review:

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What are quotation marks?