Punctuation Question

Can someone give me some insight as to how editors at most MSCs feel about quotation marks when being used for emphasis rather than an actual quotation? Do they adhere to the classic style of using double quotes for everything except a quote within a quote, British and Australian style notwithstanding? Or do they prefer the hybrid style that's ubiquitous throughout modern day American culture to use single quotes for anything other than a direct quote, i.e. for emphasis, disapproval, a single word or commonly used phrase that is not a direct quote, etc.? Your opinions, please? Thanks in advance.

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I assiduously avoid the use of single or double quotes in any shop narrative except when it is a direct quote. I will use either or both in informal writing such as the forum for effect, but in a shop narrative I will find a way to communicate the information using the King's English. Style guides used by various companies are obviously different and some of them would appear to have been self created. There are enough annoying problems in life without making more.

I don't know how most MSC editors would answer this, but this editor doesn't believe in using quotation marks to call out anything other than direct quotes in formal writing. It's not really a correct way to indicate emphasis, even informally. Usually quotation marks are used around phrases that imply "like something, but not really." Or sarcasm, such as, "I had a 'hot' breakfast at McDonald's today." Italics or boldface type are the usual ways of emphasizing something, although I realize that's not possible in most reporting platforms.

I'd personally avoid using quotation marks in my reports for anything other than direct quotes.

But maybe I'm just not sure exactly what you mean by "emphasis"? In that case, my entire response is probably useless!

In any event, proper American English style is still single quote marks within a quotation, double quotes for everything else.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

Thanks for your replies. I was wondering if it was now acceptable usage in that a scheduler made a negative comment regarding commonly misused punctuation, and then further on in her email, she used the single quotes for emphasis. I know you see it everywhere these days, but she threw me when she used it in that context. I'll be sure to avoid it in my reports.

@touchshopper wrote:

Thanks for your replies. I was wondering if it was now acceptable usage in that a scheduler made a negative comment regarding commonly misused punctuation, and then further on in her email, she used the single quotes for emphasis. I know you see it everywhere these days, but she threw me when she used it in that context. I'll be sure to avoid it in my reports.

You can't go wrong doing that, touchshopper! (I wouldn't emulate a scheduler's use of punctuation; many of them are very good writers, but others? Not so much.)

I don't know why people have taken to using single quotes for emphasis. Probably because Facebook doesn't allow type enhancements. And a lot of people don't know how to write anything other than Facebook posts. LOL.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

I was wondering about the often seen references to proper grammar and spelling too. Is this more in regards to avoid getting reports with the type of abbreviations, use of slang words, and general poor writing skills of the "younger texting generation" tends to produce, or is this actually being a stickler for 100% correct grammar and punctuation as being taught in higher education?

@GGS wrote:

I was wondering about the often seen references to proper grammar and spelling too. Is this more in regards to avoid getting reports with the type of abbreviations, use of slang words, and general poor writing skills of the "younger texting generation" tends to produce, or is this actually being a stickler for 100% correct grammar and punctuation as being taught in higher education?

Other shoppers with more experience can probably help you with specifics more than I can, but my impression is that it depends somewhat on the particular MSC. Some want 100% correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation, but don't necessarily expect it. Their editors will fix minor errors, but I suspect that if there are more issues the report gets bounced back to the shopper or rejected outright. I think some MSCs do expect perfect writing and perhaps some don't care as much.

Either way, any report should be written in a formal manner and with correct grammar, as taught in any educational setting. There's no difference between the grammar taught in grades one through twelve and that taught in college. (Except for phonetic spelling, but I don't know at what grade level the transition is made to proper spelling.) There are some style minor differences, such as which numbers to spell out and where to start using numerals, whether or not to use the Oxford comma, how to designate time of the day, etc. I don't think most MSC's make distinctions with those differences unless they specifically say to use a certain style or style guide.

HTH! (Speaking of "text speak"; LOL.)

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2015 01:36PM by BirdyC.

Um, Queen's English.

I agree with the majority -- quotes are for direct quotes, avoid other usages. Or is that, properly, "uses"?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2015 02:30PM by ceasesmith.

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