To quote a quotation within a quotation, use double quotation marks for the outer quote and single quotation marks for the inner quote. This nesting prevents confusion and maintains readability in written text.
When quoting someone who is quoting someone else, the standard practice in American English is to use double quotation marks ("") around the entire quoted passage and single quotation marks ('') around the embedded quote. For example: "She said, 'I don't trust him,' and walked away." This structure separates levels of speech.
The rule applies regardless of whether the original speaker's words are direct or indirect. If the inner quote is a complete sentence, it begins with a capital letter. If it's a fragment, the capitalization follows the grammar of the original. Punctuation such as periods and commas goes inside the closing quotation mark, following U.S. conventions.
Each level of quotation adds a layer of separation. The outermost quote uses double quotes. The next level uses single quotes. If a third level appears, return to double quotes. This pattern helps readers can track whose words belong to whom.
For example: "The professor stated, 'Students often misunderstand the concept,' and added, 'This is why we review it twice.'" Here, the professor's two statements are separated by single quotes, while the entire exchange is enclosed in double quotes.
When quoting dialogue in narrative form, place the speaker attribution after the quote. Use a comma to introduce the speaker, unless the attribution comes before the quote. In either case, the punctuation remains inside the closing quotation mark.
Different style guides handle nested quotations differently. The most widely used systems are MLA and APA, both of which follow the double-single convention.
| Style Guide | Outer Quote Marks | Inner Quote Marks | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLA (9th ed.) | Double ("") | Single ('') | MLA Style Center |
| APA (7th ed.) | Double ("") | Single ('') | APA Style |
| Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed.) | Double ("") | Single ('') | CMOS |
These standards apply consistently across academic, journalistic, and formal writing. They prevent ambiguity in multi-layered quotes and ensure consistency across publications.
Nested quotations appear in essays, research papers, news articles, and literary analysis. They're essential when reporting dialogue, citing speeches, or analyzing text within text.
For example, in a paper analyzing a novel, you might write: "In *Pride and Prejudice*, Elizabeth Bennet says, 'I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness.'" The single quotes isolate her exact words, while the double quotes frame the entire citation.
A common mistake is reversing the order-using single quotes for the outer quote and double for the inner. This confuses readers and violates standard typographic rules. Always start with double, then switch to single.
Many writers assume that quotation marks should alternate between double and single every time a new speaker begins. That's incorrect. Alternation happens only when one quote is embedded inside another. A new speaker doesn't require a change in quote type unless their words are being quoted within a larger quote.
Another misconception is that nested quotes must be italicized. They are not. Italics indicate emphasis or foreign terms, not quotation levels. Using italics for nested quotes introduces visual clutter and misleads readers.
Some online forums and informal platforms use only double quotes throughout, even for nested material. While acceptable in casual contexts, this practice fails in formal writing where precision matters. In academic work, failing to distinguish quote layers can result in lost points or rejected submissions.
When quoting a contraction within a quotation, preserve the apostrophe. For example: "He said, 'I'm not sure if she'll come.'" The apostrophe in "I'm" stays intact-it's part of the original wording.
This rule applies even when the contraction is inside a single quote. Do not replace the apostrophe with a letter. The integrity of the original language must be maintained.
Consider this excerpt from a literature paper:
"In *The Great Gatsby*, Nick Carraway observes, 'They're a rotten crowd,' he said, 'You can't bounce off them. They're a bad bunch.'"
Here, the outer quote encloses Nick's entire statement. The inner quote captures his direct words. The single quotes show that "They're a rotten crowd" is what Nick says, not the narrator's opinion. The comma after "said" separates the attribution correctly.
Without proper nesting, the sentence would read: "Nick said, 'They're a rotten crowd,' he said, 'You can't bounce off them.'" This version lacks clarity and risks misattributing speech.
I once reviewed a student's essay where nested quotes were reversed. The student wrote: 'She said, "I don't care," and left.' This caused confusion-readers assumed the speaker was quoting herself. After correcting the order, the meaning became clear: the person said, "I don't care," and then left.
Even experienced writers make this error under pressure. Always pause and verify the quote hierarchy before submitting.
Use consistent spacing: place a space between the closing quotation mark and the following word. Avoid touching punctuation to the quote mark unless required by style.
If you're writing in a language that uses guillemets (« »), the nesting rule still applies. Use « » for the outer quote and « » for the inner, though this is rare in English.
For digital publishing, ensure your word processor uses smart quotes. Manual typing of " and ' can cause errors. Smart quotes automatically adjust to the correct glyph based on context.
Always verify that the quote hierarchy matches the spoken or written source. Accuracy in quotation marks preserves credibility and prevents misrepresentation.