* Direct speech: The exact words someone said.
* Example: "I'm going to the store," she said.
* Titles of works:
* Example: I just finished reading "Pride and Prejudice."
* Words used in a special way:
* Example: He used the word "awesome" so many times it lost its meaning.
Types of Speech Marks:
* Double quotation marks (" "): The most common type used in American English.
* Single quotation marks (' '): Often used within double quotation marks to indicate a quote within a quote.
* Example: He said, "My favorite book is 'To Kill a Mockingbird'."
Other uses of speech marks:
* To emphasize a word or phrase:
* Example: He was feeling "terrible" about his mistake.
* To indicate slang or informal language:
* Example: She said, "I'm gonna go to the mall."
Placement of speech marks:
* Speech marks go around the spoken words.
* Punctuation (like periods and commas) usually go inside the speech marks in American English.
* Question marks and exclamation points go inside the speech marks if they are part of the quote, but outside if they are part of the surrounding sentence.
Let me know if you have any more questions about speech marks!