1. Direct Speech:
* Example: "I'm going to the store," she said.
* This is when you are quoting someone's exact words.
2. Titles of Short Works:
* Example: I read the short story "The Lottery" last night.
* This includes titles of songs, poems, short stories, chapters, articles, and episodes.
3. Words Used in a Special Way:
* Example: He said he wanted to "make a statement" with his new suit.
* This can include words used ironically, sarcastically, or in a way that deviates from their usual meaning.
4. Technical Terms:
* Example: The "cloud" is a network of servers accessed remotely.
* This is especially common in technical fields where specific terms have unique definitions.
5. Words or Phrases as Objects of Discussion:
* Example: The word "happy" can have different meanings depending on the context.
* This is when you are discussing the word itself, rather than using it to express something.
Punctuation Rules with Speech Marks:
* Periods and commas always go inside the closing speech mark.
* Question marks and exclamation points go inside if they are part of the quoted material, otherwise they go outside.
* Semicolons and colons always go outside the closing speech mark.
Types of Speech Marks:
* Double Quotation Marks (" "): Used in American English.
* Single Quotation Marks (' '): Used in British English.
Let me know if you have any other questions!