1. Direct Quotation:
* To represent the exact words someone spoke or wrote:
* "I'm going to the store," she said.
* The book stated, "The Earth is round."
2. Titles of Works:
* To indicate the titles of songs, books, movies, articles, poems, etc.
* "The Great Gatsby" is a classic novel.
* Did you hear the song "Bohemian Rhapsody"?
3. Technical or Specialized Terms:
* To highlight words or phrases that are being defined, discussed, or used in a specific way:
* The term "artificial intelligence" is often debated.
* The "Golden Ratio" is found in many natural phenomena.
4. Slang or Informal Language:
* To signal that a word or phrase is being used in a casual or non-standard way:
* "He was totally "bummed" about the news."
* "We're going to "chill" at home tonight."
5. To Indicate Irony or Doubt:
* To suggest that the writer is not serious or is being sarcastic:
* "He's a "genius" at fixing things."
* "That was a "wonderful" dinner."
6. To Highlight a Word or Phrase:
* To draw attention to a particular word or phrase, similar to italics or bolding:
* "The very air seemed to crackle with anticipation."
7. To Indicate a Direct Address:
* To separate a direct address from the rest of the sentence:
* "John, come here."
* "Are you sure, Mary?"
Important Note: There are different styles of quotation marks used in English.
* American English: Uses double quotation marks (" ").
* British English: Uses single quotation marks (' ').
It's important to be consistent with the style you choose.