1. Direct Quotes:
* They mark the exact words someone spoke or wrote.
* They preserve the original wording and tone.
* Example: "To be, or not to be, that is the question," Hamlet famously pondered.
2. Titles of Short Works:
* They enclose the titles of short works like poems, songs, articles, essays, chapters, and short stories.
* Example: I just finished reading "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe.
3. Words Used in a Specific Way:
* They can highlight a word or phrase when it's being used in a particular way, often to indicate irony, sarcasm, or a different meaning.
* Example: She was feeling "fantastic" after her three-hour exam.
4. Definitions:
* They can introduce a definition or explanation of a word or phrase.
* Example: "Ephemeral" means lasting for a very short time.
5. Dialogue:
* In fiction, they set apart dialogue to distinguish it from narration.
* Example: "Where are you going?" she asked.
"To the store," he replied.
6. Special Uses:
* Single quotation marks (' ') are sometimes used within double quotes for quotes within quotes.
* Scare quotes ("" ") are used to signal that the writer doesn't fully agree with the word or phrase, or to express skepticism.
Important Note:
* **Always use double quotes (“ ”) for direct quotes in American English.
* British English often uses single quotes (‘ ’) for direct quotes.
Let me know if you'd like to explore any of these uses in more detail!