inverted commas

Question

Hi everyone and I hope you are all well today. It's sunny here in Aberdeen, Scotland, which is rather rare here!

Anyway, the local paper has caused the grammar geek within me to stir and I would welcome some feedback on the following:

1) I thought to myself "it is hardly a good look when they've got a Hollywood star to launch the venue".

I'm not sure if this is correct. If there were no inverted commas, I reckon that's fine, but if they are being used, should it not be as follows:

I thought to myself ,"It is hardly a good look when they've got a Hollywood star to launch the venue".

2) Similarly, I read this in an earlier edition:

"Coronation Street once said "no star is bigger than the show".

Again, I doubt if inverted commas are really needed here, but if they have to be used, should it not be:

"Coronation Street once said, "No star is than the show".

Thanks everyone!

Mr Wordy · Accepted Answer

I've come across this before somewhere. I may have got this wrong, but I seem to recall reading that US usage prefers a comma in cases like this, and UK usage doesn't. This accords with my (BrE) view that commas are unnecessary, but not yours apparently.

I have no problem with the original capitalisation or the use of inverted commas (provided that the second one is a literal quote; if it isn't then inverted commas are not appropriate).

Anonymous · Answer

You should use a semi colon : before quotes, not a comma. Use a comma at the end if the sentence continues. Otherwise a full stop inside the quotation marks

Thus

I thought to myself :"It is hardly a good look when they've got a Hollywood star to launch the venue."

In the case of the Coronation Street remark it makes no sense anyway as Coronation Street cannot speak, except in the Aberdeen Evening Express ! People speak.

If anything it should be -- A Coronation Street producer ( or whatever) once said :" No star is bigger than the show."

inverted commas

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