You must take into account that use of quotation mark is obviously vital in English language. In English grammar, it is one of the vital punctuation marks that are used to highlight whether the words can lead without being interrupted or with some interruption. You have to keep it in mind that if you bring an interruption while using quotation you have to place either a comma or nothing but a colon to specify the interruption.
My teacher says: “Try to be great.”
In this group of words you find the quotation at the very interrupting point. Hence it is up to you to use the colon. Remember in this particular case the use of colon is nothing but the end mark of the punctuation.
If such a case comes that you have to use the quotation marks as the quotation transition shows no interruption. In this particular case always avoid the quotation marks. When the interrupted quotation transition follows and you have to use the firs letter of the quoted text in the capital letter you have the sole right to make the firs letter a smaller one.
Now you have to maintain a few punctuation rules which are essential to be used to quote something.
*Commas are always placed inside the quotation signs.
* Colons and Semi-colons obviously the colons come in the outer side of the quotation marks.
* You can use the semi-colon at the time of exemplifying, qualifying or elaborating a statement.
Example of exemplifying:
*Danger is looming large; for example, the glaciers of the Himalayan peaks are losing the thickness at a very fast rate.
* Qualifying:
It is an undoubted fact that the higher education is alarmingly costly in the country of Canada; however, it is not known that it is ignorance that is more expensive.
Elaborating:
You must keep it in mind that when you use colons you must mention a long list. There may be more than two or three items. You have to use the colon followed by two spaces and use one space after the use of every semi-colon.
- Things that are not in the agenda of the meeting: a grand feast; an exhibition; a seminar; increase of wages.
It can also be done that you may use bullets while you display a list that is long enough.
On the teacher’s day, a teacher can do the following things:
- applaud the merit;
- help the needy students;
- offer books;
- meet the guardians;
- create awareness;
The thing that you may have to notice in the above example is that the same tense is used. All the verbs are in the present indefinite tense.
Use of Question Marks and Note of Exclamation:
You can use the question marks or the exclamation marks inside or outside the quotation marks. The thing that you must take care of is the utility of the question mark and exclamation mark. The matter is to be brooded that you can never misuse the use of question marks or the exclamation marks. You must comprehend what the passage is going to highlight.