We will study how to use quotation marks (") in this lesson. Let's look at the different ways that we use quotation marks when we write in English.

1. We use quotation marks to show direct speech. We use it to show what a person says or thinks.

• She said, "I am the best."
• "We are not finished yet!" they said.
• "What is your job?" she asked me.
• "What should I do?" he thought to himself.
• "Let's go," he suggested.
• "Ouch!" Mary yelled.

2. We sometimes use quotation marks with terms or words that are being used in an unusual way or that have a different meaning in the sentence than usual.

• I saw him with his "friend".
  (In this sentence, I am implying that the person is not really his friend. Maybe, I am implying that it is his girlfriend.)


• We "experimented" when we were in college.
  (In this sentence, I do not mean that we actually did experiments. I mean that we tried new things like drinking, drugs, or other things.)

3. Sometimes we use quotation marks with technical words.

• This technique is known as "purifying".

Punctuation is essential for writing in English. Punctuation helps you express your thoughts, feelings, and ideas in a way that is easy for the reader to understand.