Use these quotation mark sample questions to review direct quotations, interrupted quotations, nested quotations, punctuation placement, indirect speech, unnecessary quotation marks, and the use of [sic].
Directions: The underlined portion of each sentence may contain an error. Choose the best replacement, or select No error if the underlined portion is already correct.
Topics Covered
- Direct and indirect quotations
- Interrupted quotations
- Single quotation marks inside double quotation marks
- Periods and commas with quotation marks
- Question marks with quotation marks
- Unnecessary quotation marks
- Missing closing quotation marks
- Using [sic] in quotations
Sample Questions
“What” he asked “do you expect me to do?”
- A. “What,” he asked, “do
- B. “What” he asked, “do
- C. “What,” he asked “do
- D. No error
Show Answer
The reporting phrase he asked interrupts one complete quotation.
Use a comma before the interruption and another comma after it. Because the quotation continues the same sentence, do remains lowercase.
The witness said, “When I asked him where he was, he said, ‘I was at home all night.’”
- A. ‘When I asked him where he was, he said, “I was at home all night.”’
- B. “When I asked him where he was, he said, I was at home all night.”
- C. When I asked him where he was, he said, “I was at home all night.”
- D. No error
Show Answer
The underlined portion is correct.
In American English, a quotation inside another quotation uses single quotation marks inside the outer double quotation marks.
She asked “what time you would be arriving.”
- A. asked what time you would be arriving.
- B. asked, “what time you would be arriving.”
- C. asked ‘what time you would be arriving.’
- D. No error
Show Answer
This sentence reports the meaning of the question rather than the speaker’s exact words.
Quotation marks are used for direct quotations, not indirect quotations. A direct version would be: She asked, “What time will you be arriving?”
Did he ask you first, “May I have permission to leave now?”?
- A. now?”
- B. now?”?”
- C. now??”
- D. No error
Show Answer
Only one question mark is needed.
Because the quoted words are themselves a question, the question mark belongs inside the closing quotation mark. Do not add another question mark afterward.
Robert replied, “I asked Sally and she said, ‘I will not help your group’.”
- A. “I will not help your group.”’
- B. ‘I will not help your group’”.
- C. ‘I will not help your group.’”
- D. No error
Show Answer
Sally’s words form a quotation inside Robert’s larger quotation.
Use single quotation marks around Sally’s words. In American English, the period appears inside the closing single quotation mark, followed by the closing double quotation mark.
Haven’t you heard the old saying, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be”?
- A. “Neither a borrower nor a lender be?”
- B. “Neither a borrower nor a lender be?”?
- C. “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”?
- D. No error
Show Answer
The underlined portion is correct.
The quoted saying is a statement, but the complete sentence is a question. Therefore, the question mark belongs outside the closing quotation mark.
We are forming an “ad hoc committee” and appointing you as its “chairperson.”
- A. “ad hoc committee” and appointing you as its chairperson.
- B. ad hoc committee and appointing you as its chairperson.
- C. ad hoc committee and appointing you as its “chairperson.”
- D. No error
Show Answer
Quotation marks are unnecessary around ordinary terms such as ad hoc committee and chairperson.
Quotation marks should not be used merely to emphasize normal words or phrases.
“This is a step that you should never skip, said the professor.
- A. “This is a step that you should never skip,” said the professor.
- B. “This is a step that you should never skip, said the professor.”
- C. This is a step that you should never skip, said the professor.
- D. No error
Show Answer
The professor’s exact words need both opening and closing quotation marks.
The reporting phrase said the professor remains outside the quotation, and the comma appears inside the closing quotation mark.
The report stated, “The committee has completed it’s [sic] review.”
- A. it’s review [sic]
- B. [sic] it’s
- C. its [sic]
- D. No error
Show Answer
The underlined portion correctly uses [sic] immediately after the error in the quoted material.
The original writer used it’s where the possessive form its was needed. The notation shows that the error appeared in the source rather than being introduced while quoting it.
The folders were labeled “Draft,” “Approved,” and “Archived.”
- A. “Draft, Approved, and Archived.”
- B. “Draft,” “Approved,” and “Archived”.
- C. “Draft”, “Approved”, and Archived.
- D. No error
Show Answer
The underlined portion is correct.
Each separate label is enclosed in its own quotation marks. Under standard American punctuation conventions, the commas and period appear inside the closing quotation marks.
How to Use These Questions
Compare each answer choice only with the underlined portion. Then read the complete sentence with that replacement to confirm that the quotation marks and surrounding punctuation work together.
Pay close attention to whether the wording is a direct or indirect quotation, whether one quotation appears inside another, and whether a question mark belongs to the quoted words or to the complete sentence.