1. Double quotation marks (American style):
* Opening: "
* Closing: "
Example: "Hello, world!" she said.
2. Single quotation marks (British style):
* Opening: '
* Closing: '
Example: 'Hello, world!' she said.
General rules:
* Use the same style consistently throughout a text.
* In American style, use single quotation marks within double quotation marks: "She said, 'I'm going to the store.'"
* In British style, use double quotation marks within single quotation marks: 'She said, "I'm going to the store."'
Other important points:
* Punctuation goes inside the closing speech mark in American English: "Hello," she said.
* Punctuation goes inside the closing speech mark in British English when it is part of the quoted material: 'Hello,' she said.
* Punctuation goes outside the closing speech mark in British English when it is not part of the quoted material: 'Hello'. She said.
Ultimately, the specific style you choose depends on your personal preference and the context in which you are writing. Just be consistent!