Identity Guidelines

Editorial Style Guide

Q

quotation marks
Always place periods and commas inside of quotation marks. Place colons and semicolons outside of quotation marks because colons and semicolons are sentence punctuation and are not part of the quotation.

Quotation marks are not used to set off quoted material that is four lines or longer. The quotation is indented and written in block style. Titles, etc. within the quote follow the use of quotation marks.

Sarah Sam’s critique of the first film shown in Theater 101 states:

The film Star Wars was a unique and unprecedented theatrical feat. The action was riveting and the cinematography set the standards for today’s action-packed features. Even the symbolism and morality expressed in the story of The Empire Strikes Back was intriguing.

Use italics, not quotations, to highlight a word you are explaining or discussing:

A hypallage is the interchange of two elements in a phrase or sentence from a logical to a less logical relationship.
NOT A “hypallage” is the interchange of two elements in a phrase or sentence from a logical to a less logical relationship.

Avoid setting off an informal expression that the reader will already know; either use it without quotes or find a synonym:

The dean’s get-together should be delightful.
NOT The dean’s “get-together” should be delightful.