Quotation marks

Quotations

German learners of English often use German quotation marks with the opening quotation mark below (= Anführungszeichen unten).

In English, both opening and closing quotation marks go above (= Anführungszeichen zu Beginn des Zitats und zum Ende sind oben). British English uses single quotations marks for quotations and dialogue. For a quotation inside a quotation, British English uses double quotation marks.

He asked, ‘Did you find a mistake?’ I told him, ‘Remember what Mr Liebermann always says, “Don’t forget the third person singular -s!”’

American English uses double quotation marks for quotations or dialogue. If there is a quotation within a quotation, American English uses single quotation marks.

He asked, “Did you find a mistake?” I told him, “Remember what Mr Liebermann always says, ‘Don’t forget the third person singular -s!’”

Titles of books or films

English (unlike German) does not use quotation marks for titles of books or films or names of newspapers. In English you underline those titles (or use italics, but that is difficult in handwriting).

Do you know the fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk?