1. With quotation marks:
* Double quotation marks (" ") are most common in American English.
* Single quotation marks (' ') are often used in British English.
Example:
"To be or not to be, that is the question," said Hamlet.
2. With an attribution:
After the closing quotation marks, include the speaker's name and any other relevant information (e.g., title, source).
Example:
"To be or not to be, that is the question," said Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark.
Here are some additional points to keep in mind:
* Periods and commas always go *inside* the closing quotation marks.
* Colons and semicolons go *outside* the closing quotation marks.
* Question marks and exclamation points go *inside* the closing quotation marks if they are part of the quote.
* If the quote is a complete sentence, use a comma before the attribution.
* If the quote is not a complete sentence, you may not need a comma before the attribution.
* Use a colon after the attribution if you are about to provide further explanation or context.
Examples:
* "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain," she sang.
* "I'm not sure I understand," he said.
* The president declared, "We will not rest until justice is served."
* He said, "I love you," and she smiled.
* He wrote in his diary: "Today, I felt a deep sense of peace."
By following these simple rules, you can ensure your quotes are grammatically correct and easy to understand.