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Double Vs. Single Quotation Marks
Double and single quotation marks are sprinkled throughout the texts we read every day. More often than not, however, the use of single quotation
marks give people trouble.
In Canadian and American style, use double quotation marks to
- enclose direct quotes.
Example: "Concern for the fate of Chinese characters extends well beyond the interest of artists alone," writes Tracy Pomerinke.
- enclose titles of newspaper and magazine articles, poems, short stories, songs, episodes of television and radio programs, and chapters or
subdivisions of books.
Example: "Does Globalization Spell Trouble for Technical Writers?" is the latest Business Word article by Peter Zvalo.
- set off words used as words, words used ironically or as slang, words that are particularly significant, and words that may be unfamiliar to the
reader. Note: Italics may also be used to set off words in these cases.
Example: The words "effect" and "affect" are often confused.
Many people often incorrectly use single quotation marks in the last example. In Canadian and American style, use single quotation marks to
- enclose a quotation within a quotation.
"I was leaving the store when I heard someone yell ‘Nobody move!’" explained Carla.
In the case of further quotations within quotations, alternate with double and single quotation marks.
British practice is usually the reverse: single quotation marks are used first and double quotations marks are used second. With the exception of a
few publishers, this style is no longer popular in Canada.
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