3.4 Quotation Marks and Other Marks

3.4 Quotation Marks and Other Marks

While commas, semicolons, and apostrophes make up the bulk of punctuation questions on the PERT, you must also be familiar with the rules governing quotation marks, dashes, hyphens, and parentheses. These marks add clarity, indicate dialogue, and help structure complex sentences.

1. Quotation Marks for Direct Quotes

Quotation marks (" ") are primarily used to enclose direct quotations—the exact, word-for-word spoken or written language of another person.

• Correct: The professor stated, "The final essay will account for fifty percent of your grade."
• Correct: "If we leave immediately," she said, "we might avoid the heavy traffic."

Notice the punctuation surrounding the quote. When an introductory phrase (like The professor stated) precedes the quote, use a comma before the opening quotation mark. When a speech tag (like she said) interrupts a single quoted sentence, use commas to set off the tag.

Indirect Quotations: Do not use quotation marks for indirect quotations (paraphrases). An indirect quote summarizes what someone said without using their exact words, often introduced by the word that.

• Correct: The professor stated that the final essay would account for fifty percent of our grade.
• Incorrect: The professor stated that "the final essay would account for fifty percent of our grade."

2. Punctuation Inside vs. Outside Quotation Marks

The rules for placing other punctuation marks relative to quotation marks are strict in American English:

Commas and Periods: Commas and periods always go inside the closing quotation marks, regardless of the context.

• Correct: "I am finished with the exam," he whispered.
• Correct: The author referred to the strategy as a "paradigm shift."

Semicolons and Colons: Semicolons and colons always go outside the closing quotation marks.

• Correct: The critic called the movie "a visual masterpiece"; however, she criticized the plot.

Question Marks and Exclamation Points: These marks go inside the quotation marks if they belong to the quote itself. They go outside if they apply to the entire sentence.

• Inside: She asked, "Are we there yet?" (The quote is a question).
• Outside: Did the manager really say, "You all have to work overtime"? (The whole sentence is a question, but the quote is a statement).

3. Titles of Short Works

Quotation marks are used to enclose the titles of short works, such as articles, essays, short stories, poems, book chapters, and individual songs.

• Correct: We analyzed Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken" in literature class.

(Note: Titles of long works, such as books, movies, magazines, and albums, should be italicized or underlined, not placed in quotation marks).

4. Dashes (Em Dashes)

The dash—specifically the em dash (—), which is longer than a hyphen—is a versatile mark used to create a strong break in a sentence. It can emphasize a point, indicate a sudden change in thought, or set off nonessential information with more impact than a comma or parentheses.

• For Emphasis: There is only one thing standing between you and success—hard work.
• Setting off Nonessential Info: The new software—which took two years to develop—is finally ready for release.

Dashes should be used sparingly in formal writing. On the PERT, ensure that if you use dashes to enclose parenthetical information, you use them in pairs (one before and one after), just as you would with commas or parentheses. Do not mix a dash and a comma.

5. Hyphens

The hyphen (-) is shorter than a dash and is used to join words together. Its primary function is to create compound modifiers (two or more words acting as a single adjective) that come before a noun.

• Correct: The company employs a well-known architect.
• Correct: She submitted a ten-page report.

However, do not use a hyphen if the modifier comes after the noun.

• Correct: The architect is well known.
• Correct: The report was ten pages long.

Also, never use a hyphen after an adverb ending in -ly.

• Correct: We bought a highly rated appliance. (Not highly-rated).

6. Parentheses

Parentheses ( ) enclose nonessential, supplementary, or explanatory information that is less important than the rest of the sentence. If the text inside the parentheses is removed, the sentence must still be grammatically complete.

• Correct: The deadline for the application (March 15th) is rapidly approaching.
• Correct: The experiment yielded unexpected results (see Appendix B for full data).

Punctuation with Parentheses: If the parenthetical material occurs at the end of a sentence, the terminal punctuation (period, question mark) goes outside the closing parenthesis.

• Correct: We ordered a new printer (a laser model).

If the parentheses contain a complete, independent sentence entirely separate from the surrounding text, the period goes inside.

• Correct: The store closes at 9 PM. (It will reopen on Monday at 8 AM.)

Final Review

To succeed on the PERT Writing exam, memorize these core rules for the remaining punctuation marks. Remember that quotation marks require precise placement of adjacent punctuation (periods and commas inside). Recognize the difference between the linking function of a hyphen in a compound word and the separating function of an em dash. Finally, use parentheses only for truly subordinate information.