single quotes
B1/B2Academic, Technical, Formal Writing
Definition
Meaning
The punctuation marks (‘ ’) used primarily to enclose a quotation within a quotation, or to indicate a word as a word.
In British English, single quotes are the standard marks for direct speech or quotations, with double quotes used for quotes within quotes. In American English, the opposite is true. In programming and markup languages (e.g., SQL, Python), they denote string literals.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The meaning is almost entirely technical/metalinguistic, referring to the punctuation marks themselves. It can be used literally or in instructions about formatting.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Fundamental: In British publishing, the primary quotation marks are single (‘like this’), with double quotes for a nested quote. In American style, the primary marks are double ("like this"), with single quotes for a nested quote. This is a strong convention in formal writing.
Connotations
In academic or publishing contexts, their use signals adherence to a specific (British or American) style guide.
Frequency
The term itself is equally frequent in both varieties when discussing punctuation rules, but the physical marks are used with opposite frequency as primary quotation marks.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Use [single quotes] around [a phrase].The [word] was placed in [single quotes].According to the [style guide], one must [use single quotes].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[none for this technical term]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in specific style guides for corporate communications.
Academic
Common in style guides (e.g., MHRA, Harvard UK) and linguistic/publishing discussions.
Everyday
Rare; most non-specialists just say "quotation marks" or "inverted commas".
Technical
Very common in programming, typesetting, editorial work, and linguistics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Always single-quote the titles of articles in this journal.
- The editor will single-quote that passage.
American English
- The programmer needs to single-quote the string literal.
- You should single-quote the inner dialogue here.
adverb
British English
- [Not a standard adverbial use]
American English
- [Not a standard adverbial use]
adjective
British English
- Follow the single-quote convention for all direct speech.
- This is a single-quote style publisher.
American English
- Use a single-quote character for the literal.
- It's a single-quote string in the code.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Look at the single quotes in this book.
- The word 'hello' is in single quotes.
- In British English, we put direct speech in single quotes like this: ‘Stop!’
- Remember to use single quotes inside double quotes for a quote within a quote in American style.
- The publisher's style guide mandates the use of single quotes for all level-one quotations, with doubles reserved for nested quotations.
- When writing the SQL query, ensure the string value is enclosed within single quotes, not double.
- Linguists often employ single quotes to indicate that a word is being mentioned rather than used in its ordinary sense, a convention known as 'scare quotes'.
- The manuscript was rejected for its inconsistent application of single and double quotation marks, violating the MHRA style guide.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SINGLE person living in a flat – one set of marks on the inside. A couple (DOUBLE) lives in a house – their marks go on the outside in AmE. In BrE, it's the opposite: the single marks are the main house.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINERS (for words), HIERARCHY (primary vs. secondary nesting).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Прямая ошибка: translating as "одинарные кавычки" is correct, but the usage rule is the trap.
- Russian uses «ёлочки» (guillemets) and „лапки“ as standard, not ‘single quotes’.
- May confuse with apostrophe (знак апострофа), which is the same glyph but different function.
Common Mistakes
- Using straight apostrophes (') instead of proper curly opening/closing quotes (‘ ’).
- Applying the British rule in an American context or vice versa inconsistently.
- Calling them "apostrophes".
Practice
Quiz
According to most British style guides, which punctuation should be used for a direct quotation?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In British English, single quotes are the standard for primary quotations. In American English, double quotes are standard, and single quotes are used only for quotes within quotes.
No. They often look identical on a keyboard ('), but in professional typography, opening and closing single quotes have distinct curly shapes (‘ ’). An apostrophe is a punctuation mark for possession or omission and usually resembles a closing single quote.
It depends on the language. In languages like Python, JavaScript, and SQL, single quotes are commonly used to define string literals ('text'). Other languages, like C++ or Java, often use double quotes. Always check the language syntax.
Generally, no. Using quotation marks for emphasis is considered poor style (sometimes called "scare quotes"). For emphasis, use italics or bold type instead. Single quotes used in this way can imply irony or doubt about the word.