Here's a breakdown of the rules:
1. Quotes within a sentence:
* No capitalization: If the quotation is part of a sentence, the first word is not capitalized.
* Example: She said, "I'm going to the store."
2. Quotes as a complete sentence:
* Capitalization: If the quotation is a complete sentence standing alone, the first word is capitalized.
* Example: "I'm going to the store," she said.
3. Quotations within a quotation:
* Capitalization: If a quotation is embedded within another quotation, the inner quotation follows the same rules as above.
* Example: He said, "I heard her say, 'I'm going to the store.'"
4. Titles of works:
* Capitalization: The first word of a title within quotation marks is capitalized.
* Example: I just finished reading "The Great Gatsby."
5. Direct speech:
* Capitalization: In direct speech, each new speaker's dialogue starts with a capitalized word.
* Example: "Hello," she said. "How are you?"
* Example: "I'm fine," he replied.
Remember: These rules apply to both single and double quotation marks.
I hope this helps clarify the rules!