And single quotation marks are generally used in headlines. But the warning quotes you're referring to, sometimes called “scare quotes,” should always be
double quotes
, not singletons, in American writing.
How do you write scare quotes?
APA – The APA recommends using scare quotes “
To introduce a word or phrase used as an ironic comment, as slang
, or as an invented or coined expression. Use quotation marks the first time the word or phrase is used; thereafter, do not use quotation marks.”
What does a scare quote look like?
Quotation marks used in this way are informally called scare quotes. Scare quotes are quotation marks placed
around a word or phrase from which you, the writer, wish to distance yourself because you consider that word or phrase to be odd or inappropriate for some reason
.
Are scare quotes grammatically correct?
Scare quotes (also known, even more colorfully, as “shudder quotes” and “sneer quotes”) are
identical to standard quotation marks
, but do precisely the opposite of what quotation marks are supposed to do: They signal irony, and uncertainty. They suggest words that don't quite mean what they claim to.
What is the difference between single and double quotation marks?
Double quotes are used to mark speech, for titles of short works like TV shows and articles, as scare quotes
Are scare quotes formal?
Scare quotes usually create an informal tone. Scare quotes are
the written equivalent of air quotes
Do commas go inside or outside of scare quotes?
In the United States, the rule of thumb is that
commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks
, and colons and semicolons (dashes as well) go outside: “There was a storm last night,” Paul said.
What does the single quote mean?
Single quotation marks are
used to indicate quotations inside of other quotations
. “Jessie said, ‘Goodbye,'” Ben said. This is Ben talking, so his words go in quotation marks. … Just like regular double quotation marks, a single quote mark always comes after a period or comma.
Why do you put quotes around a word?
Quotation marks around single words can occasionally be used for emphasis, but only when quoting a word or term someone else used. Usually, this implies that
the author doesn't agree with the use of the term
. He said he was “working”; it looked to me like he was procrastinating.
How do you show air quotes in writing?
Air quotes are
made by extending the pointer and and middle finger on each hand into the air and curling then slightly to imitate the shape of quotation marks
. One employs air quotes when stating something ironic or mocking.
Should I use single or double quotes in Python?
Use single-quotes for string literals
, e.g. ‘my-identifier', but use double-quotes for strings that are likely to contain single-quote characters as part of the string itself (such as error messages, or any strings containing natural language), e.g. “You've got an error!”.
Where do we use single and double inverted commas?
In British English we use single inverted commas
for direct speech
and double marks to enclose the quote. Example: Mr Smith said, ‘I think it was Sarah who said “It was a mistake” more than once. ‘ In American English you use single quotation marks when direct speech is quoted within another piece of direct speech.
Can you use single quotes for emphasis?
Quotation marks around
single words can occasionally be used for emphasis
, but only when quoting a word or term someone else used. … If a word needs to be emphasized but is not being quoted, you should avoid putting the word in quotes and use italics instead.
What is the purpose of scare quotes?
Unlike ordinary quotation marks, scare quotes may be used to
convey an ironic, skeptical, or even derisive stance toward the word or phrase they enclose
; they signal a nonstandard use, which often requires a reader to read between the lines to intuit the particular sense intended by the author.
How do you quote a word in a sentence?
Rule 1: Complete sentence: “
quotation
.” (If you use a complete sentence to introduce a quotation, use a colon (:) just before the quotation.) Rule 2: Someone says, “quotation.” (If the word just before the quotation is a verb indicating someone uttering the quoted words, use a comma.
How do you put a quote around a word?
Put
quotation
marks (single or double) around the exact words of a direct quotation. Inside a quotation, use a suspension to mark omitted material and square brackets to mark inserted material. Use quotation marks to distance yourself from a word or phrase or to show that you are using it ironically.
