1. To indicate direct speech: This is their most common use. They enclose the exact words spoken by a person.
*Example: "I'm going to the store," she said.
2. To indicate a title: They are used to set off the titles of books, articles, poems, songs, and other works.
*Example: I just finished reading "To Kill a Mockingbird."
3. To highlight a word or phrase: This can be used for emphasis, irony, or to indicate that a word is being used in a particular way.
*Example: He called it a "masterpiece," but I thought it was terrible.
4. To indicate a definition or explanation: They can be used to set off a definition or explanation of a term.
*Example: "Biotechnology" refers to the use of living organisms or their products for technological applications.
5. To distinguish between different meanings of a word: This is particularly useful in academic writing.
*Example: The word "right" can have several meanings, such as "correct" or "the opposite of left."
6. To show that a word or phrase is being used in a non-standard way: This might be a slang term, a regional dialect, or a word that has a different meaning in another context.
*Example: He was wearing a "hoodie" and jeans.
Important Note: Different languages and styles have different rules for using speech marks. For example, some languages use double quotation marks (" ") for direct speech, while others use single quotation marks (' '). It's important to be consistent with your style and to check the specific rules for the context you're writing in.