To Set Off A Quote Inside A Quote
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you need to include a quote inside a quote? It can be quite confusing, but it is a common practice in academic writing, journalism, and other forms of writing. In this article, we will explore how to set off a quote inside a quote, and the different rules that apply.
What is a Quote Inside a Quote?
A quote inside a quote is when you have a quotation within a quotation. For example, if you are writing an article and you want to quote a sentence from a book, and that sentence itself contains a quote, you will need to set off the inner quote with different types of quotation marks.
Single vs. Double Quotation Marks
When you have a quote inside a quote, you need to use different types of quotation marks to set them off. The most common practice is to use double quotation marks for the outer quote, and single quotation marks for the inner quote.
For example, if you want to quote a sentence from a book that contains a quote, you would write:
"The author writes, 'The cat sat on the mat'," said John.
In this example, the outer quote is "The author writes, 'The cat sat on the mat'," and the inner quote is 'The cat sat on the mat'.
However, some style guides prefer to use single quotation marks for the outer quote and double quotation marks for the inner quote. It is important to check the style guide you are using to ensure you are following the correct rules.
Using Square Brackets to Set Off a Quote Inside a Quote
Sometimes, you may need to include a quote inside a quote, but the inner quote already contains single or double quotation marks. In this case, you can use square brackets to set off the inner quote.
For example, if you want to quote a sentence from a book that contains a quote with single quotation marks, you would write:
"The author writes, 'The cat sat on the mat,' [but] I think he meant to say 'The cat lay on the rug'," said John.
In this example, the outer quote is "The author writes, 'The cat sat on the mat,'", and the inner quote is 'The cat lay on the rug', which is set off by square brackets.
Capitalization and Punctuation Inside Quotes
When you have a quote inside a quote, it is important to pay attention to the capitalization and punctuation rules. In general, you should follow the original capitalization and punctuation of the inner quote.
For example:
"The author writes, 'The cat sat on the mat'," said John.
In this example, the inner quote is 'The cat sat on the mat', and the capitalization and punctuation are preserved.
However, if you need to change the capitalization or punctuation for clarity, you can use square brackets to indicate the change.
For example:
"The author writes, 'The cat sat on the mat' [with a lowercase 's']," said John.
In this example, the inner quote is 'The cat sat on the mat', but the capitalization of the 's' in 'sat' has been changed for clarity. The change is indicated by square brackets.
Conclusion
Setting off a quote inside a quote can be confusing, but it is an important skill to master in academic writing, journalism, and other forms of writing. Remember to follow the correct rules for using single and double quotation marks, and to use square brackets when necessary. Pay attention to the capitalization and punctuation rules, and use square brackets to indicate any changes. With practice, you can become proficient at setting off quotes inside quotes.