It’s one thing to know when to use quote marks. It’s another to know when to use single or double quote marks.
In short, there’s no need to “double up” on quotes if you’re presenting or hearing info for the first time.
Here’s what I mean. When you’re directly quoting someone in an article, use double quote marks.
In her last blog post on the subject, Chante said, “Whatever punctuation was necessary to indicate what someone said — or how they said it — should go within the quote marks.”
In essence, this is the first time you’re presenting the quote.
A memory aid: double quote marks = direct quote.
Conversely, if the person you’re quoting is quoting someone else, use single quotes. The idea here is that you’re hearing something second-hand.
Another way to remember it: single quote marks = second-hand.
“The last show I went to, I heard a few people saying, ‘I feel like such an old hip-hop head!’ I could definitely understand where they were coming from.”
ChanteSez.com 