Re: Quotation Character Semantics

From: Michael Everson (everson@indigo.ie)
Date: Fri Jul 17 1998 - 04:49:07 EDT


Ar 14:04 -0700 1998-07-16, scríobh John Cowan:
>The statement about English quotation character semantics applies
>primarily to U.S. and Canadian practice. In most other English-speaking
>countries, the custom is to use SINGLE quotation marks for quotations,
>and DOUBLE quotation marks for quotations-within-quotations.

I think that was formerly true more than it is today. On the front page of
today's Irish Times -- just to pick up a source at random -- DOUBLE quotes
are used in quotations of people being interviewed. The "North American"
practice is certainly common in Ireland.

That said, the Concise Oxford does state: "A quotation within a quotation
is put in double quotation marks."

--
Michael Everson, Everson Gunn Teoranta ** http://www.indigo.ie/egt
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