Here's how it works:
1. Place the exact words spoken or written by someone else within quotation marks. These can be double quotation marks (" ") or single quotation marks (' ').
2. Include any punctuation within the quotation marks. For example, if the original text has a comma or period, include it inside the quotation marks.
3. If the quotation is a complete sentence, capitalize the first word.
4. If the quotation is a part of a sentence, you may need to add a comma or other punctuation before or after the quotation.
Here's an example:
Original: "The only way to do great work is to love what you do," said Steve Jobs.
Direct quotation: Steve Jobs once said, "The only way to do great work is to love what you do."
In this example, the words "The only way to do great work is to love what you do" are enclosed in quotation marks to indicate that they are a direct quote from Steve Jobs.
Important note: When using direct quotations, it's essential to be accurate and to represent the original text faithfully. Don't alter the words or punctuation unless you are explicitly indicating that you are making a change.