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Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations

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Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
Capitalization and Punctuation Required for Quotations
Quotation marks ("...") are used to indicate the direct quotation of a speaker's words.
Deborah asked, "Where is the car?"
"The skateboard is mine!" yelled Scott.
Quotation marks always come in pairs. The first mark indicates where the quote begins, and the second mark indicates where the quote ends.
The phrase that identifies the speaker or the source of the quote (Angela said ...; Chaucer wrote ...) is not enclosed in quotation marks.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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Question 1 of 23
A quotation mark is needed before "Ask" to mark the beginning of the speaker's words.
Quotation marks are used to mark the beginning and the end of the speaker's words. Try again.
Quotation marks are used to mark the beginning and the end of the speaker's words. Try again.
A quotation mark is missing in one of the sentences above. Try again.
There must always be an opening quotation mark and a closing quotation mark.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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Question 2 of 23
Quotation marks are used to mark the beginning and the end of the speaker's words. Try again.
A quotation mark is needed after "test." to mark the end of the speaker's words.
Quotation marks are used to mark the beginning and the end of the speaker's words. Try again.
A quotation mark is missing in one of the sentences above. Try again.
There must always be an opening quotation mark and a closing quotation mark.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
Capitalization and Punctuation Required for Quotations
Quotations can be divided by a phrase that is not part of the quote. In these cases, each part of the quote must begin and end with a quotation mark.
"Yes," she whispered, "the baby is sound asleep."
"In the afternoon," Todd said, "the rain will stop."
"Today," Margaret said, "is an excellent time to go."
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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Question 3 of 23
The divided quotation is written correctly with two pairs of quotation marks. Try again.
Quotation marks are needed before and after both parts of a divided quotation.
The divided quotation is written correctly with two pairs of quotation marks. Try again.
Quotation marks are missing from one of the sentences above. Try again.
Each part of a divided quotation should have quotation marks surrounding it.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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Question 4 of 23
The divided quotation is written correctly with two pairs of quotation marks. Try again.
Quotation marks are needed before and after both parts of a divided quotation.
The divided quotation is written correctly with two pairs of quotation marks. Try again.
Quotation marks are missing in one of the sentences above. Try again.
Each part of a divided quotation should have quotation marks surrounding it.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
Using Quotation Marks
Quotation marks are used to enclose a direct quotation.
Do not use quotation marks for an indirect quotation.
Direct: Lynn said, "I will be late for dinner."
Indirect: Lynn said that she would be late for dinner.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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Question 5 of 23
Quotation marks are used to mark the beginning and the end of the speaker's words. Try again.
The divided quotation is written correctly with two pairs of quotation marks. Try again.
The divided quotation is written correctly with two pairs of quotation marks. Try again.
Each sentence uses quotation marks correctly to enclose the speaker's words.
There must always be an opening quotation mark and a closing quotation mark.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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Question 6 of 23
"Ellen calmly asserted" is the phrase that identifies the speaker. It should not be followed by a quotation mark.
Quotation marks are used to mark the beginning and the end of the speaker's words. Try again.
This is an indirect quotation. No quotation marks are needed. Try again.
There are too many quotation marks in one of the sentences above. Try again.
There must always be an opening quotation mark and a closing quotation mark.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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Question 7 of 23
Quotation marks are used to mark the beginning and the end of the speaker's words. Try again.
Quotation marks are needed before and after "and take a deep breath." It is the second part of a divided quotation.
This is an indirect quotation. No quotation marks are needed. Try again.
A quotation mark is missing in one of the sentences above. Try again.
Each part of a divided quotation should have quotation marks surrounding it.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
Using Commas With Quotation Marks
A comma (,) is used to separate the quotation from the phrase that identifies the speaker.
Charlotte said, "I'd rather swim than jog."
In the example above, the comma is placed outside the quotation mark. However, if the quotation comes before the phrase that identifies the speaker, the comma is placed inside the quotation mark.
"I'd rather swim than jog," Charlotte said.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
In a divided quotation, a comma is used before and after the phrase that identifies the speaker.
"Hurry back," Nick warned, "or you will miss the beginning of the show."
Notice that the first comma is placed inside the quotation mark. The second comma is placed immediately after the phrase that identifies the speaker. This comma precedes the second set of quotation marks.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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Question 8 of 23
Each part of the divided quotation is properly separated by commas. Try again.
The comma after "hurried" should come before the quotation mark.
Each part of the divided quotation is properly separated by commas. Try again.
A comma is misplaced in one of the sentences above. Try again.
The comma before the phrase that identifies the speaker should come before the quotation mark.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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Question 9 of 23
A comma is used correctly to separate the quotation from the phrase that identifies the speaker. Try again.
A comma is needed after "lunch" to separate the quotation from the phrase that identifies the speaker.
A comma is used correctly to separate the quotation from the phrase that identifies the speaker. Try again.
A comma is missing in one of the sentences above. Try again.
A comma is used to separate a quotation from the phrase that identifies the speaker.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
Punctuation Within Quotation Marks: End Marks
Periods (.) are placed inside the quotation mark.
Adam said, "The bus is coming around the corner."
Dianne said, "Let's all go to the soccer game."
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
Question marks (?) and exclamation points (!) are placed inside the quotation mark when they apply to the words that are quoted.
"Did you water the plants while I was away?" Gwen asked.
"Don't drop that box!" Randall shouted.
Question marks and exclamation points are placed outside the quotation marks when they do not apply to the quoted words.
Did the waiter say "Thank you" for your generous tip?
Don't say "No" to me!
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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Question 10 of 23
The quotation asks a question. The question mark should come before the final quotation mark. Try again.
The quotation is an exclamation. The exclamation point should come before the final quotation mark. Try again.
The quotation asks a question. The question mark should come before the final quotation mark.
End punctuation is misplaced in one of the sentences above. Try again.
End punctuation marks should be placed inside the quotation mark when they apply to the words that are quoted.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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Question 11 of 23
The quotation is an exclamation. The exclamation point should come before the final quotation mark. Try again.
The quotation is an exclamation. The exclamation point should come before the final quotation mark. Try again.
The quotation asks a question. The question mark should come before the final quotation mark.
End punctuation is misplaced in one of the sentences above. Try again.
End punctuation marks should be placed inside the quotation mark when they apply to the words that are quoted.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
Capitalization in Quotations
The first word of a quotation is always capitalized.
Lynn asked, "Did you tell the Russetts about our trip to Maine?"
In a divided quotation, the first word of the second half of the quote is not capitalized unless
1. it is a proper noun or proper adjective,
2. it is the pronoun "I," or
3. it begins a new sentence.
"You know," she added, "he used to enjoy traveling."
"Thank you," Patrick replied. "It is my favorite tie."
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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Question 12 of 23
The pronoun "I" is the first word in the quotation and is always capitalized. Try again.
"Hurry" should be capitalized. It is the first word in the quotation. Try again.
The first word of the quotation should be capitalized.
A capital letter is missing in one of the sentences above. Try again.
The first word of a quotation should be capitalized.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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Question 13 of 23
"Please" should be capitalized. It begins a new sentence in the second part of the divided quotation. Try again.
"But" should not be capitalized. It does not begin a new sentence in the second part of the divided quotation. Try again.
"Because" should not be capitalized. It does not begin a new sentence in the second part of the divided quotation.
There is a capitalization error in one of the sentences above. Try again.
The first word in the second part of a divided quotation is capitalized if it begins a new sentence.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
Identifying Language Mechanics Errors
The passage that follows contains some famous sayings of Benjamin Franklin. These quotations are found in Franklin's popular publication, Poor Richard's Almanac.
The language mechanics errors in the following passage will emphasize various aspects of punctuation and capitalization required for quotations, including these:
Capitalization Punctuation Spelling
First words End marks Tricky words
  in quotations Quotations
Proper nouns Commas
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac

Benjamin Franklin had a hand in writing some of the most important documents in American history. But his best known sayings are not found in the Declaration of Independence or in the U.S. Constitution. Instead, Franklin's most quotable sayings are found in his series of Poor Richard's Almanacs. These yearly almanacs are full of advice on how to get ahead in the world. "early to bed and early to rise", Franklin wrote, "Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."
Question 14 of 23
The quotation mark is missing before the word "Early," and the word "to" should not be capitalized. Try again.
The word "bed" is not a proper noun. It should not be capitalized. The first word in a quotation should be capitalized. Try again.
"Early" should be capitalized. It is the first word in a quotation.
The first word in a quotation should be capitalized. Try again.
The first word of a quotation should be capitalized.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac

Benjamin Franklin had a hand in writing some of the most important documents in American history. But his best known sayings are not found in the Declaration of Independence or in the U.S. Constitution. Instead, Franklin's most quotable sayings are found in his series of Poor Richard's Almanacs. These yearly almanacs are full of advice on how to get ahead in the world. "Early to bed and early to rise", Franklin wrote, "Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."
Question 15 of 23
A comma is needed after "rise." The quotation comes before the phrase that identifies the speaker. Try again.
A quotation mark should follow the comma after the word "rise." It is the end of the first part of the divided quotation. Try again.
The comma after "rise" should come before the quotation mark. The quotation comes before the phrase that identifies the speaker.
The comma after "rise" should come before the quotation mark. Try again.
The comma before the phrase that identifies the speaker should come before the quotation mark.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac

Benjamin Franklin had a hand in writing some of the most important documents in American history. But his best known sayings are not found in the Declaration of Independence or in the U.S. Constitution. Instead, Franklin's most quotable sayings are found in his series of Poor Richard's Almanacs. These yearly almanacs are full of advice on how to get ahead in the world. "Early to bed and early to rise," Franklin wrote, "Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."
Question 16 of 23
A comma is needed to separate the phrase that identifies the speaker from the quotation. Try again.
A colon is not used to separate the quote from the phrase that identifies the speaker. "Makes" should not be capitalized. Try again.
"Makes" should not be capitalized. It does not start a new sentence in the second part of the divided quotation.
"Makes" should not be capitalized. It does not start a new sentence in the second part of the divided quotation. Try again.
The first word in the second part of a divided quotation is capitalized if it begins a new sentence.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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In another instance, Franklin said, "remember that time is money.". And who hasn't heard the saying, "God helps them that help themselves?" This also came from the pen of Benjamin Franklin, as did the encouraging proverb "Little strokes fell great oaks."
Question 17 of 23
The wrong type of quotation mark was used at the beginning of the quotation. "Remember" should be capitalized. Try again.
"Remember" should be capitalized. It is the first word in a quotation.
"That" should not be capitalized. It is not the first word in a quotation. Try again.
"Remember" should be capitalized. It is the first word in a quotation. Try again.
The first word of a quotation should be capitalized.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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In another instance, Franklin said, "Remember that time is money.". And who hasn't heard the saying, "God helps them that help themselves?" This also came from the pen of Benjamin Franklin, as did the encouraging proverb "Little strokes fell great oaks."
Question 18 of 23
Only one period is needed at the end of the sentence. It should come before the quotation mark.
End punctuation is missing. Try again.
The period should come before the quotation mark, not after it. Try again.
Only one period is needed at the end of the sentence. It should come before the quotation mark. Try again.
There is a punctuation error in the highlighted text.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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In another instance, Franklin said, "Remember that time is money." And who hasn't heard the saying, "God helps them that help themselves?" This also came from the pen of Benjamin Franklin, as did the encouraging proverb "Little strokes fell great oaks."
Question 19 of 23
The quotation is a statement, but the rest of the sentence asks a question. The wrong end punctuation is used. Try again.
Only one end punctuation mark is needed. Try again.
The quotation does not ask a question. The question mark should be placed outside the quotation mark.
The quotation does not ask a question. The question mark should be placed outside the quotation mark. Try again.
End punctuation marks should be placed inside the quotation mark when they apply to the words that are quoted.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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In another instance, Franklin said, "Remember that time is money." And who hasn't heard the saying, "God helps them that help themselves"? This also came from the pen of Benjamin Franklin, as did the encouraging proverb "Little strokes fell great oaks."
Question 20 of 23
Punctuation is needed to separate the introductory phrase from the quotation. The first word of the quotation should be capitalized. Try again.
A semicolon is not used to separate the introductory phrase from the quotation. Try again.
A comma should separate the introductory phrase from the quotation.
Punctuation is needed to separate the introductory phrase from the quotation. Try again.
A comma should separate the introductory phrase from the quotation.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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The almanacs also contain practical advice for getting along with friends and neighbors. For example, "Don't throw stones at your neighbor's windows" Franklin warns, "If your own are made of glass." Furthermore, this eighteenth-century sage reminds us that, "None but the well-bred man knows how to confess a fault.

With such sound advice as this, it is not surprising that the "Poor Richard's Almanacs" were immensely popular in Franklin's day, or that we still quote their wise sayings in our own day.

Question 21 of 23
A semicolon should not be used to separate a quote from the phrase that identifies the speaker. Try again.
The comma after "windows" should come before the quotation mark. Try again.
A comma is needed after "windows" to separate the quotation from the phrase that identifies the speaker.
Punctuation is needed to separate a quote from the phrase that identifies the speaker. Try again.
The comma before the phrase that identifies the speaker should come before the quotation mark.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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The almanacs also contain practical advice for getting along with friends and neighbors. For example, "Don't throw stones at your neighbor's windows," Franklin warns, "If your own are made of glass." Furthermore, this eighteenth-century sage reminds us that, "None but the well-bred man knows how to confess a fault.

With such sound advice as this, it is not surprising that the "Poor Richard's Almanacs" were immensely popular in Franklin's day, or that we still quote their wise sayings in our own day.

Question 22 of 23
A comma is needed to separate the phrase that identifies the speaker from the quotation. "If" should not be capitalized. It does not start a new sentence in the second part of the divided quotation. Try again.
"If" should not be capitalized. It does not start a new sentence in the second part of the divided quotation.
"Warns" should not be capitalized. In addition, the quotation mark is misplaced. Try again.
"If" should not be capitalized. It does not start a new sentence in the second part of the divided quotation. Try again.
The first word in the second part of a divided quotation is capitalized if it begins a new sentence.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations
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The almanacs also contain practical advice for getting along with friends and neighbors. For example, "Don't throw stones at your neighbor's windows," Franklin warns, "if your own are made of glass." Furthermore, this eighteenth-century sage reminds us that, "None but the well-bred man knows how to confess a fault.

With such sound advice as this, it is not surprising that the "Poor Richard's Almanacs" were immensely popular in Franklin's day, or that we still quote their wise sayings in our own day.

Question 23 of 23
The wrong type of quotation mark is used at the end of the quotation. Try again.
The quotation is not an exclamation. An exclamation point is not needed. In addition, the quotation mark is misplaced. Try again.
A quotation mark should follow the period after "fault" to mark the end of the quotation.
A quotation mark should follow the period after "fault" to mark the end of the quotation. Try again.
There must always be an opening quotation mark and a closing quotation mark.
Capitalization and Punctuation in Quotations