This document discusses the rules for punctuating quotations correctly. It explains that quotation marks should be placed before and after the exact words being quoted from a speaker. It notes that a reporting phrase, such as "he said", can be placed before, after, or within the quotation. The rules also cover capitalizing the first word of quoted sentences and placing punctuation marks like periods and commas inside the closing quotation mark.

1. Information taken from: Hogue, A.
(2008). First steps in academic writing.
Longman: N.Y.

2. When you are going to write what
other person says, you need to
use quotation marks (“ ”).
In this lesson you will learn rules
for punctuating quotations
correctly.

3. Rule 1
 Quotation marks “ ” are placed before and after a
speaker’s EXACT words.
 “Did you make that mess?” his mom asked.
 The teacher said, “Quotation marks are
important.”
 She said, “Good bye.”

4. Rule 2
 Use a reporting phrase (he says, he said, he stated,
etc) before, after, or in the middle of the quotation.
Before:
 The teacher said, “Quotation marks are important.”
After
 “Did you make that mess?” his mom asked.
In the middle
 “Quotation marks,” the teacher said, “are important.”

5. Rule 3
 Capitalize the first word of each sentence in a
quotation. When a quoted sentence is in
separate parts, begin the second part with a
small letter.
 The teacher said, “Quotation marks are
important.”
 “Did you make that mess?” his mom asked.
 “Quotation marks,” the teacher said, “are
important.”

6. Rule 4
 We usually use a comma to separate the
quotation mark from the rest of the sentence.
 The teacher said, “Quotation marks are
important.”
 “Quotation marks,” the teacher said, “are
important.”
 “This is a good book,” stated Tom.

7. Rule 5
 Commas (,), periods (.), and question marks (?) go
inside the second quotation mark .
 The teacher said, “Quotation marks are important.”
 “Did you make that mess?” his mom asked.
 “This is a good book,” stated Tom.
Incorrect
 “Did you make that mess” ? his mom asked.

The teacher said, “Quotation marks are important” .