In British usage, single quotation marks are used to mark direct speech (with speech within speech marked with double quotation marks).
What is the difference between single and double quotation marks UK?
British style uses single quotes (‘) for initial quotations , then double quotes (“) for quotations within the initial quotation. ... For all other punctuation, the British and American styles are in agreement: unless the punctuation is part of the quoted material, it goes outside the quotation marks.
Do British use single quotation marks?
British English uses single quotation marks to indicate quotations or dialogue . The UWSC says, ‘This is how British people do it. ‘
What are single quotation marks used for?
Quote direct speech in single quote marks. Single quotation marks are also known as ‘quote marks', ‘quotes', ‘speech marks' or ‘inverted commas'. Use them to: show direct speech and the quoted work of other writers .
Do Americans use single quotes?
American English uses double-quotes, while British English uses single-quotes: “ This is a quote .” ‘This is a quote.
Do full stops go inside speech marks UK?
Should the full stop be inside the closing quotation mark or outside it? Well, in US English, the full stop goes inside the closing quotation mark in this sentence. In British English, it is placed outside .
What are () called in English?
They can also be used in mathematical expressions. For example, 2{1+[23-3]}=x. Parentheses ( () ) are curved notations used to contain further thoughts or qualifying remarks. However, parentheses can be replaced by commas without changing the meaning in most cases.
Why do British say full stop?
The period is a literary life-saver. ... A distinction was made during the 18th and 19th centuries between the period—the dot itself, also used to end abbreviations and initials—and the full stop, which is only ever used to end sentences . British and American English were of one mind on this, even into the 20th century.
Should I use single or double quotes?
If you are an American, using quotation marks could hardly be simpler: Use double quotation marks at all times unless quoting something within a quotation, when you use single. It's different in the greater Anglosphere, where they generally use singles in books and doubles in newspapers.
What is full stop called?
The full stop (Commonwealth English), period (North American English) or full point . is a punctuation mark. ... In computing, it is called a dot. It is sometimes called a baseline dot to distinguish it from the interpunct (or middle dot).
What does a single quotation mean?
Single quotation marks are used to indicate quotations inside of other quotations . ... Once you know how single quotation marks are used, you need to know how they're used with periods and commas. Just like regular double quotation marks, a single quote mark always comes after a period or comma.
Do periods go inside single quotes?
Commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks in American English ; dashes, colons, and semicolons almost always go outside the quotation marks; question marks and exclamation marks sometimes go inside, sometimes stay outside.
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 a single speech Mark called?
Apostrophe or single quotation mark.
Where do speech marks go UK?
In British and Australian English, it all comes down to the carrier sentence (i.e., the sentence that contains the quotation). In the example below, ‘he said' is the carrier sentence for the quotation: ‘I will wait until you return', he said. He said, ‘I would appreciate that'.
Does British English use Oxford comma?
Despite being named after a British University, the Oxford comma (the comma used before “ and” in lists (e.g., I like wookies, ewoks, and droids)) is not considered standard in UK English because only one style guide (Oxford) recommends it.
