For today’s Can I Get a Ruling: the dread “quotation marks” for “emphasis.”
As I’m sure you all know, quotation marks either denote a direct quote or to show irony or euphemism. They’re not used for emphasis. So…. I don’t care what your sign says, I’m not eating your “fresh” mozzarella.
The improper use of quotations is properly skewered in the hilarious site The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks. My particular favorite is the sign that “pool” “closed”, which definitely leaves a lot to the imagination.
What I find especially “odd” about “improper quotation marks” is that it seems to be mainly a generational thing: it’s most common among people over the age of 50. Was there a golden era of quotation marks where they were used for emphasis and we “younguns” just don’t know what we’re “talking about?”
What’s the story on “incorrect” quotation marks? Anyone?
Rachelle says
I "hate" improper quotation marks. However, many online forums like "Facebook" and "Twitter" don't allow other ways of emphasizing text, such as italics or bold.
So occasionally I stoop to these "marks" for emphasis.
By the way, I HATE ALL CAPS EVEN MORE.
Deniz Kuypers says
This blog post is hilarious. What annoys me are a) incorrect use of it's vs. its ("the lion lifted it's paw"–ugh) and b) incorrect use of possessives ("24 hour's notice"–ugh again).
Sarah says
Aaaarrrrgggghhhhhhhh!
deep breath….
No, I don't think they should be used for emphasis.
I could emphasize points in conversation by communicating only by singing appropriate Broadway lyrics. But then folks would concentrate more how I'm creating emphasis rather than the point I'm actually trying make.
Or they might just run, which would be completely justifiable.
Point is, I end up wondering more about random quotations marks than the words they surround.
jimnduncan says
Wasn't so long ago that I used them instead of italics, but that was because I had been told that agents/editors didn't want italics in the ms's. Something to do with formatting I'd guess. Though underlining indicates same thing without the annoyance of quotes. Anyway, I believe it's a product (for new gen, not old) of format issues and/or just not knowing the proper way to do it.
Frontline Ink says
Here's a response inspired by a Popeye's sign with excessive quotations. I wish I could add the picture to this comment, but you'll get the idea.
According to the sign "Popeyes" may or may not be the name of the establishment (should I be worried?) and they may or may not "open" at "10."
And maybe they never really "close" but I'm not so sure. And their "dining room" is apparently a dining room in name only.
Need I go on?
Maybe "Popeye's" should fix the sign and remove some of the ambiguity of the message.
Just a "thought."
Anita Saxena says
It reminds me of that episode of Friends where Joey can't quite figure out when to use mid-air quotations in a conversation.
Anonymous says
For the generation over 50? You sure about that, Nathan? I see it far more in the "young," along with further complete carelessness about punctuation of any kind, not just tweeting and texting.
Regan Leigh says
Ryan Smith- That is just… "wonderful." 🙂
One summer, at a friend's beach house, we found her grandmother's old hairdryer. It was still in the box, which proudly stated in bold letters:
"NO ASBESTOS"
We still laugh about that. And we all love the Unnecessary Quotes blog.
Nathan Bransford says
anon-
I really do see it more in the older generation, although young people are of course not quotation free. But like some of the other commenters here I have received many a "thank you" note or "happy" birthday card from an older relative, and I see the same thing in queries.
susie sullivan says
i love "air quoting", to quote a phrase. and rather than indicating emphasis (which i would have put in italics if i could have found the italics option), (comma) i use them for sarcasm, as in "supposedly called". once i did entire esl class air quoting. we were in stitches!
Lydia Sharp says
I never noticed that a certain generation randomly "quotationalizes" things.
However, I'd like to think that MY generation will go down in history for starting the ALL CAPS method, inventing made up words to suit their purpose (or because we like to BS!), and randomly "parenthesizing" phrases that could justifiably be enclosed between two commas because we feel the need to add an unnecessary exclamation point.
Laura says
That blog reminded me of this: https://www.hulu.com/watch/2331/saturday-night-live-update—bennett-brauer
;D
Laura says
oh dangit, someone "beat me to it."
Laura says
p.s. I dislike all caps for emphasis. I always feel like the words are yelling at me, not the character. Write your prose so you don't need to tell the reader where the emphasis goes– they should be able to tell from the tone and nature of the dialogue, but that's just my opinion. It always feels like a writer is dumbing it down for me when they stress words or phrases like that.
I also hate the fact that folks in America are forever putting their commas and periods outside of the quotation marks. Frustrating. I'm trying to correct that, one college student at a time.
(End cranky English prof rant.)
Natasha Fondren says
This is interesting, because my stepfather always writes cards to "Natasha," and my husband, who is significantly older than I am, CONSTANTLY uses unnecessary quotation marks, which drives me batty!
Larissa says
OMG – this comment thread is "hilarious."
I, for one, hope that people "never" stop using quotation marks for emphasis. I "love" the comic "relief."
A Paperback Writer says
Misused quotation marks for the over-50 set, and compete ignorance of how to make a plural possessive for the under 50 set — it's fair.
Donna Hole says
I agree they're used more for irony in comments than for emphasis. I also use all caps when I'm EMPHATIC about something.
My mom does the double underling thing too. Like that ever made me "jump" right into whatever it was she wanted.
………dhole
word verif: fritine. Come on Thermocline, give me a clue.
Christy Pinheiro, EA ABA says
I LOVE USING "QUOTES" AND ALSO LOTS OF CAPS!
AND EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!
PEOPLE "LOVE" READING MY POSTS!!!!
Haste yee back ;-) says
When over 50's cat-scratch words…
We want to emphasize/specialize the word(s) — so the young read/heed the information!
We feel we've imbued the word(s) with exceptional or unusual emotional content!
We reached an age where we don't give a flyin' F–K what Miss/Mr. Grammar Pants says!
"" "" "" "" "" ""… here, kids, use with indiscretion and wear a purple poka dot hat if ya want to, or sew a gold ring in the middle of you forehead!
Life's just too short for "literary" pretense, arrogance, pomposity and sycophant "see"!
Haste yee back 😉
Cheryl Gower says
I was surprised when you said people over 50 do this more than younger people. I'm definitely over 50 and do not remember any fashion craze when " " were in style. I figured since young people use their first two fingers on each hand to enclose a word they are stressing/emphasizing as they speak that this is where it comes from. They translate it this way in their writing.
Italics, underlines or ALL CAPS are used for stressing/emphasizing.
LCS249 says
I'm sorry but Mike Myers made us do it. Doctor Evil and his "laser."
Larissa says
Christy, I am saving your post because I am still laughing about it!
"THANKS!!!!!!"
Sharon Mayhew says
I have a punctuation question, Nathan.
Is this correct or incorrect?
WHERE DOES THE SNOW GO? is a 570 word….
What about this?
"Can I please, Mrs." said little Betsy.
LCS249 says
oh, yeah. It's all the young dudes who have screwed things up royally by saying "there's" when they mean "there are." (There's so many examples of, like, such really bad grammar, like really.)
Quote that.
annerallen says
jimnduncan, I think when you read that instruction to use quotation marks instead of italics, it was for titles of books, which used to be underlined and now are italicized. But both can render a title unreadable if there's any e-mail format incompatiblity. I've read that quotation marks work better for e-mail clarity, but others say all caps is the best way to set apart a book title.
Nathan, do you have an opinion about that?
I think Liesl has it right about the sort of older folks (mostly women?) who overuse quotation marks. I have a 75 year old neighbor who uses them for pretty much every "noun." She's also generally fearful of voicing an opinion. I think she may indeed be afraid of making a "commitment" to her own "words."
Laurel says
Rick:
I beg to differ. It is not the "evolution" of our language but rather the "devolution."
And if you doubt this phenomenon I invite you to rural Georgia where you can eat "Bar-B-Q", purchase ice that is in fact "COLD", and at some fueling stations they even have "Gas".
A little aside- why are the pigs pictured at the slow pit-cooked barbeque places always so happy?
Donna Hole says
Congratulations on a wonderful workshop presentation Nathan. I really enjoyed it, and hope you do another one in the near future.
For anyone who didn't get to attend I've posted a "brief" summary (with Nathan's permission, of course) at https://donnahole.blogspot.com/
……dhole
word verif: lixtrif. Possibly a creature from the novel "Does Mars Make Me Look Fat".
ginger says
NOOOO!! We folks over 50 do know how to use quotation marks correctly! And not only that, but… get this… we learned how to diagram sentences! Bet you young whippersnappers can't do that!
Regan Leigh says
Laurel- Amen. 🙂
J.J. Bennett says
I've never seen anything so strange. I guess it takes all kinds? My vote is …No.
Jen P says
I agree with Donna – I've never experienced use of quotation marks for emphasis. However I have often seen them used as print version of the two fingers-per-hand-drawing-quotation-marks-in-the-air (like vertically wiggling bunny ears) when saying something meant ironically or indicating it wasn't true or as a euphemism.
"Funny how he ended up really "tired" after drinking "only two" beers", said Mandy.
Firefly says
Okay — I'm over fifty. I don't use quotations for emphasis. I do use quotations marks for sarcasm, or for 'made up' words. My preference is single quotation marks for this purpose. I'm certain that's incorrect. My mother and grandmother both use(d) the underlining trick — frequently. Now, I mightbe tempted to be outraged at the implication that older people are more grammatically incorrect… but no time for that. By the way, I've recently learned that I often use the ellipsis incorrectly as well. Nevertheless, thanks for turning me on to "The Blog of Unnecessary Quotation Marks." That made my day!
Cynthia says
We in the under fifty set seem to like the trend of quotes with neologisms. They are used to connote that the writer understands that they are, in fact, making up a word. Examples: "fauxhawk", "frenemy."
CKHB says
I have no idea who is responsible for this "grammar." Improper quotation marks make me angry. I'm 36.
lotusgirl says
I've never seen any of the older people I know using quotes for emphasis. It seem crazy if you ask me. Maybe it's a regional thing as well as age thing.
Kristin Laughtin says
Quoting doesn't bother me if it's a catchphrase, slogan, etc., or if it's being done in a tongue-in-cheek way. If it's for emphasis, that's what italics or underlining is for, in my book. (And even then it should be rare! Structure your sentences so that the emphasis is obvious!)
Narnian Girl says
This whole thing cracks me up. Thanks for the Chris Farley link! Another classic example of misused air quotations is the episode of Friends where Joey confesses that he just doesn't get it. He ends up saying a heartfelt, "I'm sorry" in the end. It's so funny!
I agree about the older generations maybe learning different rules. My grandmother, born in 1905 used to sign her cards to my mom: Love, "Mom". Which was somewhat disturbing and very hilarious.
AM says
Well, I can't be certain of the source, but my daughter and her friends use "air-quotes" to stress sarcasm.
Perhaps they learned to use quotes from their grandparents or perhaps the use of quotes are making a return with the younger generation. Gasp, just like seventies fashion!
Stephanie Faris says
I have to watch myself in my manuscripts to avoid overusing the italicized emphasis (underlined in the manuscript, of course). In my blog I find too often I'm ALL CAPSing to show emphasis. It's fine sparingly…but if I'm using it every sentence or so I realize the blog starts to read like a ransom note!
Anonymous says
Is this based on a query received today?
Nathan Bransford says
anon-
No, I actually wrote this post a couple of weeks ago and only just posted it.
Jen C says
Haha, if I was reading a book that had quotation marks for emphasis I would certainly put it down / throw it across the room, after I was done laughing.
I am, however, addicted to amusing air quotations.
D. G. Hudson says
I don't like the use of quotation marks for emphasis. They clutter up the text.
But – I disagree that it's the over 50 (or boomers)who abuse this and other grammar rules. There is a dearth of online bastardization of the English language, and the majority is coming from younger age groups. Most of the experimentation in language use developed after most of the over 50 group completed their education. The use of massive abbreviation in the techie world (texting, etc.)that exists today has led many to believe that grammar, and punctuation rules are only guidelines and can be manipulated to suit one's taste.
IMO – tweeting and instant messaging promote shorthand thinking and writing.
LindaBudz says
My birthday card just last week from my parents was signed by my mom: Have a "great" day. "Love" you lots, Mom and Dad.
Maybe I should send her a thank-you note: What a "nice" card!
Lilit Hotham says
I've always used caps and italics to emphasize but if I'm being humorous I use the quotations. Time and place I suppose.
What is the proper way to emphasize?
LH
Joshua Peacock says
I've noticed that using all caps in an old person thing too. I think it's because they're too old to notice the problem and fix it lol.
ryan field says
I've seen this quotation thing for a long time. I never noticed whether or not it was generational.
Mira says
Hmm. Can I just add a comment? I think in a discussion like this there's a danger of young and old 'dissing each other.
Let's not.
Things that are generational tend to be related to the culture of the times, not the pros and cons of young vs. old.
Both youth and experience have qualities to recommend them.
Nathan Bransford says
mira-
Yeah, I'm kind of surprised some people are taking such offense. I'm not saying "everyone" (ha) over 50 does this or even most people, just that from what I've seen it's more common.
It's "okay" people over 50. There are "plenty" of grammar errors to go around.