Quotation Marks: When to Use Single or Double Quotes

Quick Summary: Double vs. Single Quotation Marks

In general, use double quotation marks when writing in US or Canadian English. 

Example: "Good morning," said Jane.

Conversely, use single quotation marks when writing in British or Australian English.

Example: 'Good night', said Adrian.

An Introduction to Quotation Marks: Purpose and Types

Quotations marks serve many purposes. Often, they are used to enclose dialogue, but they can also be employed to cite text from another source, indicate the title of a work, and set off words that are unusual or ironic. 

These punctuation marks take two forms: double quotation marks (") and single quotation marks ('). Knowing when to use one type or the other can be confusing, even for the most seasoned writers!

In this blog post, we'll provide a thorough overview of how to use quotation marks and whether single quote marks or double quote marks should be chosen. 

When to Use Double Quotation Marks: General Rules

Whether to use double quote marks or single quote marks depends on the type of English. Double quotation marks are standard in US (and Canadian) English. When writing in this variety of English, double marks should almost always be used. 

As a note, some style guides and publishers have their own unique rules when it comes to quotation marks. If you're writing an academic text and are working with a style guide, it's best to consult that guide and follow its advice. 

In US English, double quotation marks are used in the following scenarios.

Quoting Direct Words or Dialogue

The most common use of quotation marks is to set off character dialogue, direct speech, or text taken from another writer. Examples of these uses in US English are given below:

Dialogue in a fictional story: John jumped. "Don't scare me like that," he said.

Direct speech: In a widely televised speech, the governor criticized his opponent's policy, calling it "a nonsensical approach to a made-up problem."

Text cited from another author: This brings to mind Shakespeare's famous line from Hamlet: "To be, or not to be, that is the question."

Knowing how and when to use quotation marks is especially important in creative writing, as it tends to include a lot of dialogue.

Titles of Short Works

While italics are usually used for the titles of longer works such as novels and plays, titles of shorter works are often enclosed in quotation marks. These may include short poems, articles, book chapters, and songs. 

As always, if you're working with a specific style guide, consult the guide's advice, as a particular publisher's rules may vary on how to handle titles.

Examples (US English):

Poem: Perhaps the best-known work of modernist poetry is T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock."

Article: Stevenson's article, "Diabetes in the 21st Century," is considered a landmark in medical writing. 

Song: Elvis Presley's vocal performance in "Blue Christmas" has stood the test of time.

"Scare Quotes"

Quotation marks can also be used to indicate that a word or phrase is nonstandard, ironic, or a slang term. When employed in this manner, these "scare quotes" designate that a word is not usually used in the way given in the text, or that a word is not what the writer themselves would use to describe something.

In addition, quotation marks can enclose words referred to as words. In general, keep the use of scare quotes limited; overuse can disrupt the flow of the text.

Examples (US English):

Slang: "Ghosting" happens far too often on these apps. 

Irony: Oh, I'm going to "pay him back," all right. 

Words referred to as words: The word "charisma" has given rise to the slang term "rizz."

When to Use Single Quotation Marks: General Rules

As with double quotation marks, the choice to use single quotation marks is almost entirely dependent on the region you're writing in. Single quotation marks are the default in British (and Australian) English. 

In British English, use single quotation marks for all of the scenarios mentioned above, including for dialogue and cited text, for titles of short works, and for scare quotes. 

Examples:

Dialogue: 'We're very glad you were able to come to the party', Weatherby said. 

Poem: Have you read 'Ozymandias'? It's one of Shelley's great poems. 

Words referred to as words: The word 'pound' can refer to many different things.

Headlines (Both US and British)

Many style guides recommend the use of single quotation marks instead of double quotation marks in news headlines. As always, however, consulting a relevant style guide before implementing quotes in your headline is a good idea. 

Notably, this rule applies to both US and British English. 

Example:

Situation on ground 'grim', warn experts on flooding

Within Double Quotation Marks (and Vice Versa)

Sometimes, quotation marks need to be used within text that is itself already enclosed by quotation marks. These are known as nested quotation marks.

With nested quotes, the quotation marks on the inside should be of the opposite type as the ones on the outside. That means that single quotes should be placed within double quotes in US English, and double quotation marks should be placed within single quotation marks in British English.

Examples:

US English: "When I say 'immediately,' I mean sometime before August," said the manager.

British English: Jack raised his hand and asked a question. 'Why did she say the word "traitor"?'

Cheat Sheet: Rules for Single vs. Double Quotes

Common Mistakes When Using Quotation Marks

With so many distinct ways to use quotes, it's easy to make mistakes, but an expert proofreader can help you spot these errors. Here are a few common ones to avoid.

Unpaired Quotation Marks

One of the most common mistakes is inserting opening quotation marks, then forgetting to insert closing marks (or vice versa). Quotation marks always need to be paired in groups of two, enclosing text between them. 

For example, an author may erroneously leave out the closing quotation marks in a line of dialogue:

Incorrect: "Don't forget to take out the trash, said Tim. 

Unpaired nested quotation marks can be especially easy to miss, and you'll want to carefully double-check sentences that use them. Take the following sentence, which is missing the opening nested quotation marks before "Don't," as an example:

Incorrect: "I talked to Tim, and he said, Don't forget to take out the trash' to me."

Inconsistent Quotation Marks

Whatever type you end up using—double quote marks or single quote marks—keeping the use of that type consistent is key. Make sure that you don't mix double marks and single marks for the same purpose, and remember that double is standard in US English while single is standard in British English. Of course, keep in mind that for nested quotation marks, you will need to use both types, and that is acceptable.

It is also worth noting that when typing, quotation marks can appear as either "curly" or "straight" depending on the application you are using for writing. Using either of these forms is generally fine, but both forms should not appear in the same document. 

Unnecessary Quotation Marks

Quotation marks have a lot of uses, but sometimes, it's best to avoid them. 

Block quotations (citations of very lengthy text) are usually indented or written in a smaller font rather than enclosed in quotation marks. Check with your style guide or publisher for information about these quotations.

Another common error is using quotation marks after writing "so-called." "So-called" already expresses that what follows is meant ironically or sarcastically, so you don't need scare quotes to convey this. 

Incorrect: My so-called "friend" just came back to town.
Correct: My so-called friend just came back to town.

It is also important to not overuse quotation marks. For example, if you're constantly finding yourself citing other sources, consider paraphrasing on occasion. 

Finally, what constitutes the correct use of quotation marks can change depending on specific style guides. If you're working with one of these, always check for their rules for quotation marks. 

Placement of Periods and Commas with Closing Quotation Marks

You now know when to use double quotations marks and single quotation marks. But there's another tricky question: Should you place other punctuation marks inside or outside of closing quotation marks?

Once again, the answer depends on your region. In US English, periods and commas are placed inside of closing quotation marks. However, colons and semicolons are placed outside of them. 

The reverse is true for British English, for which periods and commas (as well as semicolons and colons) are always placed outside of closing quotation marks. 

The placement of question marks and exclamation points is the same for both US and British English. These are placed inside of closing quotation marks if they are part of the quoted material, and outside if they are not. 

See how our editors handle punctuation consistency: Try Scribendi's editing and proofreading services.

Other Punctuation Marks

Aside from quotes, certain other punctuation marks can be tricky to use. Fortunately, Scribendi has detailed blog posts to help you with correct usage. These include posts on the following topics:

Using apostrophes

Using semicolons and colons

Using parentheses

Conclusion

Quotation marks are necessary for most types of writing, but using them correctly, and making sure you don't overuse them—whether single or double quotes—is crucial.

To ensure quotation marks have been used appropriately in your writing, consider sending it to the professionals at Scribendi for proofreading.

FAQ

Should I Use Single Quote Marks or Double Quote Marks in Academic Writing?

As discussed in this article, this choice depends on your regional variety of English and on any style or publishing guide you are following. If you don't have specific guidelines to work with, remember the following default rule: double marks in US English, single marks in British English. 

Are Quotation Marks Used for Emphasis? 

While some style guides may recommend the use of quote marks for emphasis, many advise against it. If you're emphasizing a word, it's often best to use italics instead, especially if quotation marks are being used for other purposes in your work. 

How Do I Quote Something in a Quote?

When quotation marks are needed within something already placed in quotation marks, use the opposite type of the first type used. For example, use single quotation marks within double quotation marks, and use double quotation marks within single quotation marks. These are known as nested quotes. 

What If I'm Not Writing in US/British English?

Canadian English generally follows the same rules as US English (double quote marks). Australian English follows British English (single quotation marks). 

Of course, there are many varieties of English. When in doubt, try to determine what the general rule is for your region. Once you choose single or double quotes, use that type consistently.

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