I run into this all the time, yet I’ve never found a definitive usage rule. Show Here’s an example: Let’s say I have a sentence that goes on a bit, and then, in the middle, I drop a quote that says something like “We were tired and angry, but we persevered,” and then I continue on with the rest of my sentence. Should that quote be capitalized if it falls in the middle of the sentence? Specifically, should I do this? … I drop a quote that says something like “We were tired and angry, but we persevered,” and then I continue … Or should I do this? … I drop a quote that says something like “we were tired and angry, but we persevered,” and then I continue … The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) recommends the fragment guideline: Capitalize the first letter if the mid-sentence quote is a full sentence and make the first letter lowercase when the quote is a fragment. I’m inclined to trust OWL, but I’d also like to know how others handle this. Punctuation with Quotation Marks Rule of Two: Two go inside: Two go outside: Two go in OR out, depending on meaning: Quotations within quotations: Capitalization within quotations: If a sentence is interrupted in the middle, do not capitalize
the second part. Other Uses for Quotation Marks Use to
indicate words used ironically or with some reservation (also known as “scare quotes”). Use these sparingly! Quotation marks may be used for words set off as words, but italics are preferred. Do not use quotation marks:
Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook. For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook. Whether to capitalize or lowercase the first letter of the first word of a quotation depends on how the quotation is integrated into your prose and what appears in the original. After a Verb of SayingCapitalize the first letter if the quotation appears after a verb of saying, regardless of the case used in the source–but flag any alterations you make. A quotation that follows a verb of saying (e.g., writes, says, states, exclaims) and is run in to your text is introduced with a comma and begins with a capital letter. If the first quoted word begins with a lowercase letter in your source, use a capital letter enclosed in square brackets to indicate that you’ve altered the source: Introduce a block quotation that follows a verb of saying with a colon, and capitalize the first letter of the first word of the quotation: After a ColonA quotation that is run in to your text and introduced with a colon may begin with a lowercase or capital letter—use whatever you find in the source:
In MLA style, sentences following a colon usually start with a lowercase letter, but it is acceptable to start such sentences with a capital letter. Thus, by using whatever you find in the source, you can maintain the integrity of the quotation and avoid using brackets unnecessarily. Integrated into Your SyntaxA quotation that is integrated with the syntax of your sentence begins with a lowercase letter: If the first letter of the first word you quote is capitalized in your source, use a lowercase letter enclosed in square brackets: A block quotation begins with a lowercase letter if it integrally continues your introductory wording: Do you capitalize the beginning of a quote in the middle of a sentence?Capitalization within quotations:
If you are quoting a complete sentence, begin the quotation with a capital letter. He asked me, “Do you like blues?” If you are quoting only a fragment of a sentence, do not begin the quotation with a capital.
How do you start a quote in the middle of a sentence?The examples use MLA format.. Use a full sentence followed by a colon to introduce a quotation. ... . Begin a sentence with your own words, then complete it with quoted words. ... . Use an introductory phrase naming the source, followed by a comma to quote a critic or researcher.. Should I capitalize the first word in a quote?Direct Quotations
Capitalize the first letter of a direct quote when the quoted material is a complete sentence. Mr. Johnson, who was working in his field that morning, said, "The alien spaceship appeared right before my own two eyes."
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