You use two quotes in a sentence when you have a quote within another quote, employing single quotes inside double quotes or vice versa, depending on the surrounding context.
Here's a breakdown of how to handle nested quotations, also known as a quote within a quote:
Using Single Quotes Inside Double Quotes
This is the most common scenario, especially in American English. You use double quotes for the main quote and single quotes for the quote within the main quote.
Example:
The teacher said, "Remember to always ask yourself, 'What is the main idea?' before summarizing a text."
In this case, the teacher's entire statement is enclosed in double quotes, while the question they are prompting students to ask themselves is enclosed in single quotes.
Using Double Quotes Inside Single Quotes
This is more common in British English. You would use single quotes for the main quote and double quotes for the quote within the main quote.
Example:
The teacher said, 'Remember to always ask yourself, "What is the main idea?" before summarizing a text.'
Quotes Within Quotes Within Quotes
While rare, sometimes you need to nest even further. In this case, alternate between double and single quotes:
Example:
The senator said: "I had a voter tell me: 'I'm fed up with tax cheats. They get away with "murder."'"
Here, the outermost quote uses double quotes, the next level uses single quotes, and the innermost uses double quotes again.
Important Considerations:
- Punctuation: Place punctuation marks (periods, commas) inside the innermost quotation marks if they are part of the quoted material. If they apply to the entire sentence, place them outside the outermost quotation marks.
- Clarity: While grammatically correct, deeply nested quotations can be confusing. Consider rephrasing the sentence for better clarity if possible.
- Attribution: Always clearly attribute each quote to its source to avoid plagiarism or misrepresentation.
In summary, using quotes within quotes involves alternating between double and single quotation marks to clearly delineate the different levels of quotation. Always prioritize clarity and proper attribution when constructing your sentences.
