Sentence Fragments and Run-on Sentences

Quotation Marks 
 
Quotation marks enclose direct quotations. Only the actual words spoken should go within the 
quotation marks. 
He said, "Yes, you may go." 
Do not use quotation marks if the words are paraphrased.
He said that I may go. 
Single quotes are used to indicate a quote within a quote. 
The proud father replied, "My baby said 'Daddy.'" 
Periods and commas go inside the closing of quotation marks. 
"You may go," Mother said, "as long as you are home in time for dinner." 
Exclamation marks and question marks are used inside the quotes when they apply to the quoted 
material and outside the quotes when they apply to the whole sentence. 
Jane asked, "Are we going to Disney World?"
Did Jane say, "We're going to Disney World"? 
Colons and semicolons go outside quotation marks. 
Ed suggested, "Let's go to the park"; however, Jim was too tired. 
Quotation marks enclose words used in a special sense. 
He had a reputation for being a "fast talker" who used high-pressure sales tactics. 
The child's "horse" was a mop she pretended to ride. 
Quotation marks are used to enclose short passages being quoted. 
In "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," T.S. Eliot reminds us, "In a minute there is 
time / For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse." 
Quotation marks are used to enclose titles of
• articles
• short stories
• short poems 
• songs
• chapters
• speeches 
• episodes of radio or television series 

---

North Harris College Writing Center 
Page 37 
Quotation Mark Practice 
 
Place the quotation marks and the correct punctuation where needed in the following sentences. 
1. Jenny said
,
"
I'm ready
."
2. Bill asked
, "
Where are you going
?"
3. The article in the newspaper was entitled 
"
How to Avoid Mail Fraud
."
4. Did John actually say 
"
I'm dropping my class
"?
5. The second chapter in the biology book is entitled 
"
The Function of the Cell
."
6. 
"
I will be there
,"
she replied, 
"
but I'll be a little late
."
7. 
"
Please
,"
begged the child
, "
tell me a story
."
8. Did she ask
, "
Who wants to go with me
"?
9. 
"
If you want to go
,"
she cautioned
, "
you must be here by 7:00
."
10. Joan asked
, "
How much longer do I have to wait
?"
11. 
"
There was nobody there
,"
she responded
, "
so I left
."
12. Dave yelled
, "
stop
"
just in time to stop the child from walking into the street
.
13. He sighed and said
, "
Finally, we can leave
."
14. 
"
I know all the words to the Star Spangled Banner
,"
she replied
.
15. 
"
I'll see you at the meeting tonight
,"
Susan said
.
16. 
"
We can leave tonight
,"
she replied
, "
or we can wait until tomorrow
."
17. 
"
What time are you coming
?"
Jane asked
.
18. She responded
, "
The Wasteland is the saddest poem
."
19. Did he say
, "
Make sure you're home by midnight
"?
20. She said
, "
Remember to bring the bread
,"
however
,
he did forget
.
21. 
"
Read the chapter carefully
,"
the professor said
, "
or you will be lost during the next lecture
."
22. 
"
Has he already gone
?"
she asked
.
23. Joan suggested
, "
Let's go ice skating
,"
however, she had forgotten about John's broken ankle
.
24. The announcer yelled
, "
It's a home run
!"
25. 
"
When does the movie start
?"
she asked
.

---

North Harris College Writing Center 
Page 38