Can I use quotation marks for emphasis?

Quotation marks may also be used to emphasize or highlight a term, much as italics or capitalization can serve as a typographic aid to draw attention. Example: “At the 'burger joint,' Bob ordered sushi.” The author of the sentence doesn't want us to miss the culinary incongruity.
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Can you use quotation marks to emphasize words?

Do not use quotation marks to emphasize a word. Just don't. It's wrong. The strength of your words should make any formatting unnecessary, but if you really want to emphasize something, use boldface or italics.
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Do you use double quotation marks for emphasis?

Double quotation marks are commonly used for emphasis or to highlight any words or phrases of text. Some people were taught to use single quotation marks for this case, but most publishers and style guides agree that single quotation marks aren't a great choice.
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Can you use inverted commas for emphasis?

Single inverted commas (in British English) are sometimes also used to 'emphasise' a word or phrase. However, this usage can create confusion for your reader, if they are unsure whether the inverted commas indicate irony or emphasis. For this reason, using the inverted comma for emphasis is best avoided.
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What are quotation marks not used for?

Indirect quotations are not exact wordings but rather rephrasings or summaries of another person's words. In this case, it is not necessary to use quotation marks. However, indirect quotations still require proper citations, and you will be committing plagiarism if you fail to do so.
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Can you use quotation marks to emphasize a word?



What is wrong way to use quotations?

There are many ways to go wrong with quotation marks. They are often used ironically: She ran around with a bunch of “intellectuals.” The quotation marks around “intellectuals” indicate that the writer believes that these are in fact so-called intellectuals, not real intellectuals at all.
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What are the four uses of quotation marks?

This post discusses the use of quotation marks to distinguish dialogue, parts of compositions, phrases as phrases, scare quotes, and epithets.
  • For Dialogue. ...
  • For Parts of Compositions. ...
  • For a Phrase as a Phrase. ...
  • For Scare Quotes. ...
  • For Epithets.
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Why do people use quote marks for emphasis?

Quotation marks around words can instruct the reader to think the words mean something other than what they say. It's like adding a wink to your statement, so people know you're kidding.
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Can italics be used for emphasis?

Most commonly, italics are used for emphasis or contrast — that is, to draw attention to some particular part of a text.
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How do you emphasize a word in an essay?

Still, especially for academic writing, italics or underlining is the preferred way to emphasize words or phrases when necessary. Writers usually choose one or the other method and use it consistently throughout an individual essay. In the final, published version of an article or book, italics are usually used.
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Should I use single or double quotes?

If you are an American, using quotation marks could hardly be simpler: Use double quotation marks at all times unless quoting something within a quotation, when you use single.
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What's the difference between quotation marks and apostrophes?

But I bet you're curious about how they're different, why else would you be here? The main difference between the two is: Quotation marks are used to report speech. An apostrophe is used for making contractions and possession.
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What do double quotation marks mean?

Double quotation marks are used for direct quotations and titles of compositions such as books, plays, movies, songs, lectures and TV shows. They also can be used to indicate irony and introduce an unfamiliar term or nickname. Single quotation marks are used for a quote within a quote.
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When should punctuation be outside of quotation marks?

Place a question mark or exclamation point within closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the quotation itself. Place the punctuation outside the closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the whole sentence.
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How do you format emphasis?

Formatting for Emphasis
  1. Italics. In formal writing, italics are the best way to emphasize text. ...
  2. Bold. While bold fonts are mostly used for headings and subheadings in formal documents, they are used for emphasis online and in informal writing. ...
  3. Underlining. ...
  4. ALL-CAPS. ...
  5. A Warning About Quotation Marks.
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Can you use italics to emphasize certain words or phrases?

Italics can emphasize a single word or phrase. For example: “Are you going to eat that?” or “I never said I wanted to go. I said I would consider it.” It's best to use italics for emphasis sparingly so that they retain their impact.
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How do you emphasize a word without italics?

Quotation marks for 'emphasis' are common in unedited writing but rare in formal prose, where italics are the usual approach. Bold and underlines are occasionally used; ditto *asterisks* and _underscores_.
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What is the difference between quotation marks and inverted commas?

Inverted commas are punctuation marks used to show where speech or a quotation begins and ends. In American English, inverted commas are called quotation marks.
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Which is an example of quotation marks used correctly?

Periods and commas ALWAYS go inside quotation marks. Examples: The sign read, “Walk.” Then it said, “Don't Walk,” then, “Walk,” all within thirty seconds. He yelled, “Hurry up.”
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What are the three reasons for using quotation marks?

They are used to show the exact words someone has spoken or written (a direct quote), or to identify specialist terms. They may also be used to draw attention to words or phrases.
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What are some examples of quotations?

Examples of Direct Quotations
  • "I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." ( President Thomas Jefferson)
  • "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake." ( Statesman Napoleon Bonaparte)
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How do you quote something someone said?

Use double quotation marks (“”) around a direct quote. A direct quote is a word- for-word report of what someone else said or wrote. You use the exact words and punctuation of the original. Harriet Jacobs writes, “She sat down, quivering in every limb” (61).
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Do you use single quotation marks for thoughts?

Never use quotation marks for thoughts, even if those thoughts are inner dialogue, a character talking to himself. Reserve quotation marks for speech that's vocalized. Readers should be able to tell when a character is speaking inside his head and when he's talking aloud, even if he's the only person in the scene.
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What are the three types of quotations?

Types of quotes
  • In-text quotes. An in-text quote is a short quote that fits into and completes a sentence you've written. ...
  • Indirect quotes. An indirect quote is when you paraphrase ideas from a source. ...
  • Direct quotes. A direct quote is when you take text directly from a source without changing anything.
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What is the difference between speech marks and quotation marks?

Quotation marks—sometimes called 'speech marks', or more colloquially 'quotes'—are used to indicate direct speech.
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