引號

在直接引用某人說過的話時,會用到引號。但如果是轉述某人說過的話,就不用引號。

舉例
  • "I'm going to the store now," she said.
  • Harry told me, "Don't forget your soccer jersey."
  • Harry told me not to forget my soccer jersey.

如果要在引用句中再引用他人的話語,就會用單引號和雙引號來區別兩句引文。

舉例

'I haven't spoken to Peter for months,' Dianne said.'The last time I spoke to him he said, "I'm going to Bahrain and won't be back for about three years", I've heard nothing since then'.

用單引號或雙引號來表示諺語或不熟悉的說法

舉例
  • I've always thought that he was very annoying, a bit of a 'pain in the neck.'
  • I'm not sure what you mean by "custodial care", but I'm sure you will explain it to me.

在學術寫作上,會用單引號或雙引號來標明文獻或資料來源。文獻引用書寫格式有好幾種,學術機構一般會有偏好的一種寫法,他們有時會在網站或簡章上公布指定的格式。

舉例
  • "The Migration Flight of the Lesser Tweazle", by Jeremey Adams, The Bird Spotter Magazine, July 2009.