Do you use single or double quotation marks to emphasize a word?

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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Can I use single quotation marks to emphasize a word?

Quotation marks around single words can occasionally be used for emphasis, but only when quoting a word or term someone else used. Usually, this implies that the author doesn't agree with the use of the term. He said he was “working”; it looked to me like he was procrastinating.
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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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Do you use single or double quotation marks for a word?

There is one very special use of quotation marks which it is useful to know about: we use quotation marks when we are talking about words. In this special use, all varieties of English normally use only single quotes, and not double quotes (though some Americans use double quotes even here).
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What is single quotation mark used for?

Single quotation marks are also known as 'quote marks', 'quotes', 'speech marks' or 'inverted commas'. Use them to: show direct speech and the quoted work of other writers. enclose the title of certain works.
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Single or Double Quotation Marks?



What is the difference between single and double quotation marks?

General Usage Rules

In America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the general rule is that double quotes are used to denote direct speech. Single quotes are used to enclose a quote within a quote, a quote within a headline, or a title within a quote.
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What are double quotation marks used for?

Quotation marks, double (“”) or single (''), are generally used for direct quotes, certain titles, and words used in a special manner. Quotation marks are ALWAYS used in pairs, one at the beginning of the quoted text and one at the end. The same rule applies to titles and words used in a special sense or for emphasis.
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How do you emphasize a word?

If you need to emphasize a word or a particular fact in a sentence, you can use italics to stress it. That said, italics and other font changes lose their impact if overused.
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What are the 3 rules for using quotations?

Commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks in American English; dashes, colons, and semicolons almost always go outside the quotation marks; question marks and exclamation marks sometimes go inside, sometimes stay outside.
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What is the difference between single and double inverted commas?

Single inverted commas are used for quotes and double inverted commas are used to highlight/emphasis a point of view in a writing or a speech.
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Can inverted commas be used 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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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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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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Is it OK to use single quotation marks?

Single quotation marks are used to indicate quotations inside of other quotations. “Jessie said, 'Goodbye,'” Ben said. This is Ben talking, so his words go in quotation marks. But because we're quoting Ben quoting someone else, Jessie, we use single quotation marks to indicate the quote within the quote.
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How do you emphasize a word in MLA?

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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How do you use single and double quotation marks?

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. It's different in the greater Anglosphere, where they generally use singles in books and doubles in newspapers.
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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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How do you properly use quotations?

Direct quotations involve incorporating another person's exact words into your own writing. Quotation marks always come in pairs. Do not open a quotation and fail to close it at the end of the quoted material. Capitalize the first letter of a direct quote when the quoted material is a complete sentence.
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How do you emphasize a word in a quote?

To “emphasize a word or words in a quotation, use italics. Immediately after the italicized words, insert 'emphasis added' within square brackets as follows: [emphasis added]” (APA, 2020, p. 275). For example, “They [the judges] were convinced that the swimmer had missed the two-handed [emphasis added] turn.”
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What punctuation is used to emphasize a word?

A colon is used to give emphasis, present dialogue, introduce lists or text, and clarify composition titles. Emphasis—Capitalize the first word after the colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence.
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How do you emphasize a word in a text message?

5 Ways to Emphasize Text
  1. Italicize. Italics are a nice improvement from the days of the typewriter when underlining was the norm. ...
  2. Bold. Using bold text is more dramatic and easily recognizable than italics. ...
  3. Change Size. ...
  4. Use Space. ...
  5. Add Color.
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How do you quote someone's words?

Quoting a portion of dialogue: If you quote something a character says, use double quotation marks on the outside ends of the quotation to indicate that you are quoting a portion of the text. Use single quotation marks inside the double quotation marks to indicate that someone is speaking.
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How do you cite a person's word?

When making reference to the spoken words of someone other than the author recorded in a text, cite the name of the person and the name of the author, date and page reference of the work in which the quote or reference appears.
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What's a single quote?

Noun. single quote (plural single quotes) A quotation mark, as in She said, 'Go ahead'. An apostrophe, as in Let's do it.
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How do you use single quotation marks in a sentence?

Use single quotation marks for quoted material, titles of works, or special terms that appear within a quotation. Examples: She wrote, "I just read Maya Angelou's 'On the Pulse of Morning,' and I loved it." (title of a poem) The blog visitor commented, "The term 'inverted commas' makes no sense." (special term)
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