Differences between UK and USA

MarkMas

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
8,944
I have spent some time today trying to figure out the difference between UK and US practices with quotation marks.

Most sources say that US English uses double marks, and then single inside those: The Maserati owner said, "It costs 'buttons' to run." and that the UK practice is the opposite. Can that be right?

I have always used single quotation marks for 'irony' and that sort of thing, and double for, as I said to MrsMarkMas yesterday, "Reported speech". And I think most Americans would do the opposite.

Americans are also weird about 'double punctuation' at the end of sentences (so I have heard). (But maybe I'm wrong.) :cool:
 
Swedish Paul

Swedish Paul

Member
Messages
1,811
MarkMas said:
I have spent some time today trying to figure out the difference between UK and US practices with quotation marks.

Most sources say that US English uses double marks, and then single inside those: The Maserati owner said, "It costs 'buttons' to run." and that the UK practice is the opposite. Can that be right?

I have always used single quotation marks for 'irony' and that sort of thing, and double for, as I said to MrsMarkMas yesterday, "Reported speech". And I think most Americans would do the opposite.

Americans are also weird about 'double punctuation' at the end of sentences (so I have heard). (But maybe I'm wrong.) :cool:
Click to expand...
Try T-SQL. More quotes than Shakespeare.
 
DLax69

DLax69

Member
Messages
4,301
MarkMas said:
I have spent some time today trying to figure out the difference between UK and US practices with quotation marks.

Most sources say that US English uses double marks, and then single inside those: The Maserati owner said, "It costs 'buttons' to run." and that the UK practice is the opposite. Can that be right?

I have always used single quotation marks for 'irony' and that sort of thing, and double for, as I said to MrsMarkMas yesterday, "Reported speech". And I think most Americans would do the opposite.

Americans are also weird about 'double punctuation' at the end of sentences (so I have heard). (But maybe I'm wrong.) :cool:
Click to expand...
I "generally" use double quotes as I would "air quotes." However, when writing dialogue...She asked, "How much 'quality' time are you planning to spend with the car today, dear?" Note that punctuation marks belong inside the quotation marks...and that I enjoy the convention of just...trailing...off...
 
Tallman

Tallman

Member
Messages
1,834
MarkMas said:
I have spent some time today trying to figure out the difference between UK and US practices with quotation marks.

Most sources say that US English uses double marks, and then single inside those: The Maserati owner said, "It costs 'buttons' to run." and that the UK practice is the opposite. Can that be right?

I have always used single quotation marks for 'irony' and that sort of thing, and double for, as I said to MrsMarkMas yesterday, "Reported speech". And I think most Americans would do the opposite.

Americans are also weird about 'double punctuation' at the end of sentences (so I have heard). (But maybe I'm wrong.) :cool:
Click to expand...
Double = quote or indicating irony/sarcasm
Single = quote within a quote or headline (of the non irony/sarcasm variant)

In South Africa we mostly use the UK English rules so would assume the same. US of course is a whole different ‘kettle of fish’

Here at SM I would presume we would be using mostly double quotes ;)
 
Last edited:
DLax69

DLax69

Member
Messages
4,301
Tallman said:
Double = quote or indicating irony/sarcasm
Single = quote within a quote or headline (of the non irony/sarcasm variant)

In South Africa we mostly use the UK English rules so would assume the same. US of course is a whole different ‘kettle of fish’

Here at SM I would presume we would be using mostly double quotes ;)
Click to expand...
I knew your teapots were larger...but how many fish can you fit in them, on "average" ...?
 
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