single quotes

American  

plural noun

1. one pair of single quotation marks, written as (‘ ’) and used especially for a quotation within another quotation.

   He said, “I told you to say ‘Open, sesame’ when you want to enter the mountain.”

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How does single-quotes compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• single quotes vs. double quotes

Example Sentences

Page 7: Double quotes inside double quotes in Hallam quotation replaced with single quotes.

From Tolstoy on Shakespeare A Critical Essay on Shakespeare by Chertkov, V. G. (Vladimir Grigorevich)

In the 1870 text, dialogue has “modern” punctuation using single quotes: ‘To this place,’ said Melissa, ‘have I taken....’

From Alonzo and Melissa The Unfeeling Father by Mitchell, I. (Isaac)

If the character in single quotes does not look like a pound sign to you, well, at least you know what is intended.

From Reminiscences of Captain Gronow by Gronow, R. H. (Rees Howell)

In the story "The Village Doctor," the use of double and single quotes was partially omitted, and inconsistent with the balance of the book; this has been corrected.

From Tales from Blackwood Volume 5 by Various

Only"Page 295: Changed double quotes to single quotes: passing the 'carriers' throughPage 295: Added closing quote: ... under the postal administration."

From Triumphs of Invention and Discovery in Art and Science by Fyfe, J. Hamilton