Spanish-English Comparative Punctuation
Lesson 2: Quotations, Part 2
For quotations, English uses quotation marks. American English usually prefers double quotation marks ["xxx"]. UK English usually prefers single quotation marks.
"Please learn these simple rules." UK: 'These are a few of my favourite things.'
In English, periods and commas come BEFORE (or, INSIDE) the quotation marks.
Professor Ramírez begged, "Please learn these simple rules."
"Please learn these simple rules," the professor begged.
NOTE: In simple quotations, we don't use a colon [ : ] to introduce the quotation.
Ellla me dijo: Iremos el jueves, sin falta.
She told me, "We are absolutely going to be there on Thursday."
"Please learn these simple rules." UK: 'These are a few of my favourite things.'
In English, periods and commas come BEFORE (or, INSIDE) the quotation marks.
Professor Ramírez begged, "Please learn these simple rules."
"Please learn these simple rules," the professor begged.
NOTE: In simple quotations, we don't use a colon [ : ] to introduce the quotation.
Ellla me dijo: Iremos el jueves, sin falta.
She told me, "We are absolutely going to be there on Thursday."
Spanish-English Comparative Punctuation
Lesson 3: Quotations, Part 3
Declarative sentences (i.e., not questions or exclamations) end in a period.
My favorite sports team is the Chicago Cubs.
If a quotation is a declarative sentence PRECEDED BY a phrase identifying the speaker or writer, a COMMA will be used AFTER the phrase and BEFORE the quotation marks. DO NOT use a colon [:].
Professor Ramírez declared, "My favorite sports team is the Chicago Cubs."
XXProfessor Ramírez declared: "My favorite sports team is the Chicago Cubs."XX
If a quotation is a declarative sentence FOLLOWED BY a phrase identifying the speaker or writer, the sentence will end in a comma that comes BEFORE the quotation marks.
"My favorite sports team is the Chicago Cubs," Professor Ramírez declared.
If the quotation is split, with a phrase identifying the speaker or writer in the middle, a comma is used after each segment, and each part of the quotation is enclosed in quotation marks.
"My favorite sports team," Professor Ramírez declared, "is the Chicago Cubs."
NOTICE: There will be a practice exercise (AKA QUIZ) at the start of the next class session.
My favorite sports team is the Chicago Cubs.
If a quotation is a declarative sentence PRECEDED BY a phrase identifying the speaker or writer, a COMMA will be used AFTER the phrase and BEFORE the quotation marks. DO NOT use a colon [:].
Professor Ramírez declared, "My favorite sports team is the Chicago Cubs."
XXProfessor Ramírez declared: "My favorite sports team is the Chicago Cubs."XX
If a quotation is a declarative sentence FOLLOWED BY a phrase identifying the speaker or writer, the sentence will end in a comma that comes BEFORE the quotation marks.
"My favorite sports team is the Chicago Cubs," Professor Ramírez declared.
If the quotation is split, with a phrase identifying the speaker or writer in the middle, a comma is used after each segment, and each part of the quotation is enclosed in quotation marks.
"My favorite sports team," Professor Ramírez declared, "is the Chicago Cubs."
NOTICE: There will be a practice exercise (AKA QUIZ) at the start of the next class session.