either of the punctuation marks used to begin or end a quotation, respectively “ and ” or ‘ and ’ in English printing and writing. When double marks are used, single marks indicate a quotation within a quotation, and vice versa
Also called: inverted comma
Examples of 'quotation marks' in a sentence
quotation marks
Callendar asked putting the colloquialism in quotation marks.
Wright, Eric A BODY SURROUNDED BY WATER (2004)
Only I'd be sure to put it in quotation marks, which would legalize my careful misattribution.
Gash, Jonathan THE TARTAN RINGERS (2004)
A compromise in the shape of quotation marks was eventually reached.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I put the term in quotation marks because it rarely actually moves.
Globe and Mail (2003)
Might 'unrealistic and airbrushed model' take up the quotation marks from now on?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Primarily, they indicate quotations (hence 'quotation marks') and direct speech (hence 'speech marks').
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Should one put colloquialisms in quotation marks in all that one writes?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
I remember the beginning of the mania for quotation marks.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
No quotation marks are used when people speak.
Times, Sunday Times (2018)
As with her previous book, she eschews quotation marks.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
In other languages
quotation marks
British English: quotation marks /kwəʊˈteɪʃən mɑːks/ NOUN
Quotation marks are punctuation marks used in writing to show where speech or a quotation begins and ends. They are usually written or printed as (` ') and (“ ”).