Quotation marks are a special punctuation mark.

Today it’s hard to imagine that once books were printed without punctuation marks. They have become so familiar that they simply do not notice. But punctuation marks live their own lives, have an interesting history of appearance. A person who seeks to master a competent written speech must correctly use punctuation marks.

The history of quotation marks

The word quotation marks in the meaning of the note symbol occurs in the 16th century, and in the meaning of the punctuation mark it was used only from the end of the 18th century. It is assumed that the initiator of quotation in writing is N.M. Karamzin. The origin of this word is not clear. In Russian dialects, kavysh is “duckling”, and quotation is “frog”. So, it is assumed that the quotation marks are “tracks from duck or frog legs”, “squiggle”, “hook”.

Types of quotes

There are several types of quotation marks. In Russian, two types of quotation marks are used:

- French "Christmas trees";

- German “paws”.

Fir-trees use as usual quotation marks, and paws are used as "quotation marks" inside “quotation marks”.

Rules for using quotation marks in the text

Quoting direct speech and quotes

Speech of another person, i.e. direct speech included in the text is made out in two ways:

- if direct speech is written in a string, then it is enclosed in quotation marks: "It is a pity that I did not know you before, " he said;

- if the direct speech begins with a paragraph, then put a dash in front of it (then do not put quotation marks): Senya and Pavel went to the balcony.

- That's what I came for: Gleb from a business trip arrived?

- I arrived.

The words of the author can break open speech. In this case, quotation marks are placed at the beginning and at the end of a direct speech: “Do I give joy to loved ones?” Anastasia thought. “Have I really become so callous?”

Direct speech is not indicated by quotation marks, unless it is indicated to whom it belongs: No wonder it is said: what you sow, you will reap.

Quotations are enclosed in quotation marks in the same way as a direct speech: “Life is an unpredictable thing, ” A.P. said. Chekhov.