{"id":298,"date":"2026-07-21T11:48:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T06:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/?p=298"},"modified":"2026-07-24T10:21:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T04:51:55","slug":"how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Quotation Marks in Academic Writing: Rules, examples, and British vs. American English conventions"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p><strong>Key Takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>American English places periods and commas inside the closing quotation mark; British English usually keeps them outside unless they belong to the quoted text.<\/li>\r\n<li>American academic style favors double quotation marks first, while British style often favors single marks, though usage varies by publisher.<\/li>\r\n<li>Block quotations of 40+ words (APA) or 4+ lines (MLA) drop quotation marks and use a 0.5-inch indent instead.<\/li>\r\n<li>Match your quotation style to 1 style guide, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago, and apply it consistently across the whole paper.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#Why_Do_Quotation_Marks_Matter_in_Academic_Writing\" >Why Do Quotation Marks Matter in Academic Writing?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#What_Are_the_Main_Types_of_Quotation_Marks\" >What Are the Main Types of Quotation Marks?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#Placing_Quotation_Marks_Correctly\" >Placing Quotation Marks Correctly<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#How_Do_You_Punctuate_Short_Quotations\" >How Do You Punctuate Short Quotations?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#Handling_Block_Quotations\" >Handling Block Quotations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#Nesting_Quotations_Within_Quotations\" >Nesting Quotations Within Quotations<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#Quotation_Marks_and_Other_Punctuation\" >Quotation Marks and Other Punctuation<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#Where_Does_the_Period_Go\" >Where Does the Period Go?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#Commas_Colons_and_Semicolons\" >Commas, Colons, and Semicolons<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#Question_Marks_and_Exclamation_Points\" >Question Marks and Exclamation Points<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#What_Are_Common_Quotation_Mark_Errors\" >What Are Common Quotation Mark Errors?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#British_vs_American_English_What_Are_the_Key_Differences\" >British vs. American English: What Are the Key Differences?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#Single_vs_Double_Quotation_Marks\" >Single vs. Double Quotation Marks<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#Punctuation_Placement_Rules\" >Punctuation Placement Rules<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#Terminology_Differences\" >Terminology Differences<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#Style_Guide_Requirements\" >Style Guide Requirements<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#Which_Style_Guide_Should_You_Follow\" >Which Style Guide Should You Follow?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#Best_Practices_Checklist\" >Best Practices Checklist<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Do_Quotation_Marks_Matter_in_Academic_Writing\"><\/span>Why Do Quotation Marks Matter in Academic Writing?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Quotation marks matter because they separate borrowed words from your own, credit original authors, and protect you against plagiarism. They show readers exactly where a source begins and ends.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>In academic work, quotation marks serve several precise jobs:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Marking direct quotations taken word-for-word from a source.<\/li>\r\n<li>Enclosing titles of short works, such as journal articles and book chapters.<\/li>\r\n<li>Flagging a word discussed as a word, for example the term &#8220;paradigm&#8221;.<\/li>\r\n<li>Signaling irony or skepticism through scare quotes.<\/li>\r\n<li>Introducing a key technical term on its initial use.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Misused marks blur the line between your ideas and a source. That confusion can read as plagiarism, even when it is accidental, so accuracy protects both your grade and your credibility.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_the_Main_Types_of_Quotation_Marks\"><\/span>What Are the Main Types of Quotation Marks?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The 2 main types are double marks and single marks. Double marks enclose the primary quotation, and single marks enclose a quotation nested inside another quotation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Type<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Symbol<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Primary use<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Double<\/td>\r\n<td>straight or curly pair<\/td>\r\n<td>Primary quotations in American style.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Single<\/td>\r\n<td>straight or curly pair<\/td>\r\n<td>Quotes within quotes (American); primary quotes (British).<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Curly (smart)<\/td>\r\n<td>typeset pair<\/td>\r\n<td>Preferred in formatted final documents.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Straight<\/td>\r\n<td>upright pair<\/td>\r\n<td>Used in plain text, code, and drafts.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Pick 1 visual style, curly or straight, and keep it consistent. Word usually converts straight marks to curly marks automatically, so check that your document does not mix both.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Placing_Quotation_Marks_Correctly\"><\/span>Placing Quotation Marks Correctly<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Placement depends on quotation length and on the punctuation involved. The subsections below cover short quotations, block quotations, and nested quotations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_You_Punctuate_Short_Quotations\"><\/span>How Do You Punctuate Short Quotations?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Integrate the quotation into your own sentence, enclose it in quotation marks, and place the citation right after the closing mark. Keep the wording exact.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Introduce the quote with a signal phrase, a comma, or a colon.<\/li>\r\n<li>Copy the quoted words exactly as they appear in the source.<\/li>\r\n<li>Place the in-text citation after the closing quotation mark.<\/li>\r\n<li>Use square brackets for any words you add for clarity.<\/li>\r\n<li>Use an ellipsis of 3 dots for words you remove.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Example: <\/strong>The author argues that &#8220;data should guide every decision&#8221; (Rao, 2021, p. 14).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>A signal phrase such as &#8220;the author argues&#8221; tells readers who is speaking before the quoted words appear. This framing keeps your voice in control and makes the borrowed material feel purposeful rather than dropped in without context.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Handling_Block_Quotations\"><\/span>Handling Block Quotations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Long quotations use indentation rather than quotation marks. Each style guide sets its own length threshold, shown below.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Style guide<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Block-quote threshold<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Final citation<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>APA (7th ed.)<\/td>\r\n<td>40+ words<\/td>\r\n<td>After the final period.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>MLA (9th ed.)<\/td>\r\n<td>4+ lines of prose<\/td>\r\n<td>After the final period.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Chicago<\/td>\r\n<td>100+ words or 5+ lines<\/td>\r\n<td>After the final period.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Start the block on a new line.<\/li>\r\n<li>Indent the entire block 0.5 inches from the left margin.<\/li>\r\n<li>Omit quotation marks around the block itself.<\/li>\r\n<li>Keep double spacing unless your guide says otherwise.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Introduce a block quotation with a full sentence and a colon, then place your analysis directly after it. A block quote should support your argument, so never let it stand alone without comment.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Nesting_Quotations_Within_Quotations\"><\/span>Nesting Quotations Within Quotations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>When a quotation contains another quotation, the 2 systems mirror each other, so the outer and inner marks swap between American and British writing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>American: &#8220;She said \u2018yes\u2019 without hesitation.&#8221;<\/li>\r\n<li>British: \u2018She said &#8220;yes&#8221; without hesitation.\u2019<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>If the nested quote reaches a third level, alternate again: double, single, then double in American style. Keep levels clearly paired so readers can follow each speaker.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Quotation_Marks_and_Other_Punctuation\"><\/span>Quotation Marks and Other Punctuation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Combining quotation marks with periods, commas, colons, and question marks trips up many writers. The rules split along regional lines for some marks and stay universal for others.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_Does_the_Period_Go\"><\/span>Where Does the Period Go?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>In American English, the period goes inside the closing quotation mark. In British English, it usually goes outside, unless the period belongs to the original quoted sentence. As you can see from the table below, punctuation of quotation marks is a key difference between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/british-vs-american-english-spelling-punctuation\/\">British and American English<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Punctuation<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>American style<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>British style<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Period<\/td>\r\n<td>Inside the mark<\/td>\r\n<td>Outside, unless in the source<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/comma-splice-and-comma-rules-in-academic-writing\/\">Comma<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Inside the mark<\/td>\r\n<td>Outside, unless in the source<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/colon-vs-semicolon-rules-examples\/\">Colon<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Outside the mark<\/td>\r\n<td>Outside the mark<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/colon-vs-semicolon-rules-examples\/\">Semicolon<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Outside the mark<\/td>\r\n<td>Outside the mark<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Commas_Colons_and_Semicolons\"><\/span>Commas, Colons, and Semicolons<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Commas: inside the closing mark in American style; outside in British logical style.<\/li>\r\n<li>Colons: always outside the closing mark in both systems.<\/li>\r\n<li>Semicolons: always outside the closing mark in both systems.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>American example: <\/strong>The report called it &#8220;urgent,&#8221; yet no action followed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>British example: <\/strong>The report called it \u2018urgent\u2019, yet no action followed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Question_Marks_and_Exclamation_Points\"><\/span>Question Marks and Exclamation Points<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Placement here depends on meaning, not on region. Put the mark inside if it belongs to the quotation, and outside if it belongs to your full sentence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Inside: The witness asked, &#8220;Where is the evidence?&#8221;<\/li>\r\n<li>Outside: Did the memo really say the plan was &#8220;final&#8221;?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Never double up terminal punctuation. If the quotation already ends in a question mark, you do not add a separate period after the closing mark.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_Common_Quotation_Mark_Errors\"><\/span>What Are Common Quotation Mark Errors?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Common errors include using quotation marks for emphasis, forgetting a citation, and mixing straight and curly marks. Each one weakens an otherwise strong paper.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Using quotation marks for emphasis instead of italics or bold.<\/li>\r\n<li>Forgetting to cite the source after a direct quote.<\/li>\r\n<li>Mixing straight and curly marks in 1 document.<\/li>\r\n<li>Placing periods outside the marks in American style.<\/li>\r\n<li>Overusing scare quotes, which can sound sarcastic or dismissive.<\/li>\r\n<li>Quoting so heavily that your own analysis disappears.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"British_vs_American_English_What_Are_the_Key_Differences\"><\/span>British vs. American English: What Are the Key Differences?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The key differences are mark choice and punctuation placement. American style prefers double marks with punctuation inside; British style often prefers single marks with logical punctuation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Feature<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>American English<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>British English<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Primary mark<\/td>\r\n<td>Double marks<\/td>\r\n<td>Single marks (varies)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Nested mark<\/td>\r\n<td>Single marks<\/td>\r\n<td>Double marks<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Period and comma<\/td>\r\n<td>Inside the mark<\/td>\r\n<td>Outside if not in source<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Common term<\/td>\r\n<td>Quotation marks<\/td>\r\n<td>Inverted commas<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Single_vs_Double_Quotation_Marks\"><\/span>Single vs. Double Quotation Marks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>American writing opens with double marks and reserves single marks for nested quotes. Much British writing reverses this, though many British publishers now adopt double marks for clarity.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>American default: &#8220;The theory holds.&#8221;<\/li>\r\n<li>British default: \u2018The theory holds.\u2019<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Punctuation_Placement_Rules\"><\/span>Punctuation Placement Rules<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>American style follows a typesetting tradition that tucks periods and commas inside. British style follows logical placement, keeping punctuation with the words it actually belongs to.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Typesetting style (American): commas and periods always sit inside.<\/li>\r\n<li>Logical style (British): punctuation sits inside only if it is part of the quote.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Choose the placement system that matches your target audience, then apply it to every quotation in the document. Never switch systems partway through a single paper, since mixed placement signals careless editing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Terminology_Differences\"><\/span>Terminology Differences<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The 2 traditions even name the marks differently, which can confuse readers who move between them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>American writers say &#8220;quotation marks&#8221; or &#8220;quote marks&#8221;.<\/li>\r\n<li>British writers say &#8220;inverted commas&#8221;, and schools often say &#8220;speech marks&#8221;.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>These labels point to the same punctuation, so do not treat them as different tools. When you read a British style guide, mentally swap &#8220;inverted commas&#8221; for &#8220;quotation marks&#8221; to avoid confusion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Style_Guide_Requirements\"><\/span>Style Guide Requirements<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Most quotation rules are settled by your assigned style guide. Confirm which one your discipline or instructor requires before you start writing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_Style_Guide_Should_You_Follow\"><\/span>Which Style Guide Should You Follow?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Follow the guide your field or instructor requires. APA suits the sciences, MLA suits the humanities, and Chicago suits history and publishing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Style guide<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Typical field<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Quotation note<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>APA (7th ed.)<\/td>\r\n<td>Sciences and psychology<\/td>\r\n<td>Double marks; punctuation inside.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>MLA (9th ed.)<\/td>\r\n<td>Humanities and literature<\/td>\r\n<td>Double marks; punctuation inside.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Chicago (17th ed.)<\/td>\r\n<td>History and publishing<\/td>\r\n<td>Double marks; punctuation inside.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>All 3 American guides agree on double marks with periods and commas inside. They differ mainly on citation format and block-quote length, not on mark placement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Best_Practices_Checklist\"><\/span>Best Practices Checklist<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Run through this checklist before submitting any paper that contains quotations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Confirm your required style guide and apply it throughout.<\/li>\r\n<li>Choose 1 mark style, curly or straight, and stay consistent.<\/li>\r\n<li>Check that every direct quote carries a citation.<\/li>\r\n<li>Verify period and comma placement matches your regional style.<\/li>\r\n<li>Convert quotes over the length threshold into indented blocks.<\/li>\r\n<li>Replace emphasis quotes with italics or bold.<\/li>\r\n<li>Read each quote against the source for word-for-word accuracy.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Consistency is the single most important habit here. A reader rarely notices correct quotation marks, but 1 stray period or a mismatched mark can distract from strong ideas and cost easy marks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Do quotation marks go inside or outside periods in American English?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>In American English, periods and commas always go inside the closing quotation mark, even when they were not part of the original quoted material. This is a fixed typesetting rule.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>How do you quote within a quote in academic writing?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Use single marks for the inner quote and double marks for the outer quote in American style. British writers reverse the pattern, using double marks inside single marks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>When should you use single quotation marks instead of double?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>In American writing, use single marks only for a quotation nested inside another quotation. In British writing, single marks often serve as the primary quotation mark instead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Do you use quotation marks for block quotes in APA?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>No. In APA style, a quotation of 40+ words becomes a block quote, indented 0.5 inches with no quotation marks. The citation follows the final period.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>What is the difference between quotation marks and inverted commas?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>They describe the same punctuation. &#8220;Quotation marks&#8221; is the American term, and &#8220;inverted commas&#8221; is the British term. British schools also call them speech marks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>How do you punctuate a quotation that ends with a question mark?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Keep the question mark inside the closing quotation mark if the quoted words form the question. Do not add a second period after the closing mark.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Should titles of articles be in quotation marks or italics?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Use quotation marks for titles of short works, such as articles, chapters, and poems. Reserve italics for longer works, such as books, journals, and films. This split holds across APA, MLA, and Chicago.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Are scare quotes acceptable in academic writing?<\/strong> Use them sparingly. Scare quotes can flag a contested term or an unusual use of a word, but overuse reads as sarcastic and undermines an objective, scholarly tone. When in doubt, define the term instead.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"These tips and the explanations will help you use quotation marks more confidently\u2014provided you pay attention to the relevant details. And if you have ever wondered how the US conventions of using quotation marks differ from the UK conventions, this article throws some light on that too.","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":299,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_ayudawp_aiss_exclude":false,"_ayudawp_aiss_summary":"American academic style favors double quotation marks first, while British style often favors single marks, though usage varies by publisher. Double marks enclose the primary quotation, and single marks enclose a quotation nested inside another quotation. When a quotation contains another quotation, the 2 systems mirror each other, so the outer and inner marks swap between American and British writing.","_ayudawp_aiss_summary_provider":"manual","_ayudawp_aiss_summary_hash":"34898745e29c357b1a0f739535acf8e16c89948e"},"categories":[5],"tags":[37],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Using Quotation Marks in Academic Writing: Rules, examples, and British vs. American English conventions | Editage<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-quotation-marks-in-manuscript-writing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Using Quotation Marks in Academic Writing: Rules, examples, and British vs. American English conventions | Editage\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"These tips and the explanations will help you use quotation marks more confidently\u2014provided you pay attention to the relevant details. 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