Term
Use dashes when a speaker changes ideas or clarifies something.
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Definition
Ex.
I was there on Monday -- no, it was Tuesday.
You told him -- her, rather -- that you were there?
I was -- no, I didn't.
Did you get -- strike that. |
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Term
| When the speaker stops the idea and inserts something, but then goes back to the original idea, then uses dashes before and after. |
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Definition
I gave it to -- now, let's see who it was -- Agnes.
I have said -- now this may sound weird -- that she was there.
We went to Joe's -- you know, the bar there -- all the time. |
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Term
| If the interruption coming in the middle is not really different or confusing, then you can just use a comma before and after. The dashes are for dramatic changes of thought. |
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Definition
He was, I believe, there that day.
This is, you know, a lot.
He was, as I often say, a liar.
Answer my question, if you don't mind, so that we can proceed. |
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Term
| Use dashes when one speaker is interrupted and then resumes his original idea. |
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Definition
Q. Did you go --
A. Yea, Yea
Q. -- to that bar a lot?
Notice that when the first speaker resumes, its dashes then a lowercase letter. Notice also that the person interrupting is not dashed, barring what the next card will discuss. |
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Term
| Use dashes when a second speaker interrupts and resumes the thoughts of the first speaker. |
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Definition
Q A total of --
A -- two hundred.
Q You went there --
A -- on Tuesday.
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Term
| Use dashes when a speaker is interrupted then continues his thoughts after saying something else. |
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Definition
Q Were you there --
A Yes
Q Let me finish. -- on Tuesday?
Notice that the "let me finish" interjection has a period after it. You then put the dashes and again a lowercase letter. On Tuesday ends with a question mark because it is part of "were you there on Tuesday" which is a question. |
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Term
| Use dashes when a speaker uses a series and then says the main idea. |
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Definition
Agnes, Sue, Joe -- these are the people who were there.
Family, criminal, juvenile -- these are the departments she worked in. |
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Term
Dash test -- Punctuate the following
Q Did you give her strike that
A No not really
Q I said to strike it let me ask you this was she there on
A Tuesday? Yes she was
Q Let me finish Wednesday
A Oh I see no she was not |
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Definition
Answer:
Q Did you give her -- strike that.
A No, not really.
Q I said to strike it. Let me ask you this. Was she there on --
A -- Tuesday? Yes, she was.
Q Let me finish. -- Wednesday?
A Oh, I see. No, she was not. |
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Term
| Use quotation marks for direct quotes or what the witness believes to be direct quotes. You were not there and have no way of knowing if it is true or not. If the witness seems to be indicating it is a direct quote, use the quotes. |
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Definition
She said, "It was him. He did it."
"You were there," she said, "and you saw it?"
-- Notice the comma before the open quote. In the second example, you have a split quote. The first part ends with comma, quote. The second part starts with comma, quote. Same order. Easy-peasy to remember, right? |
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Term
| Do not set off indirect quotes. |
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Definition
I told him to go.
She said that he was there.
I'm asking you if you know him.
-- For short one or two word responses, like "he said yes," then you don't need to put quote marks around the word "yes." He said yes is fine. |
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Term
| Put quotes by different speakers in a new paragraph. |
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Definition
I said, "You do it."
He said, "No way." I was getting mad.
Vicki said, "Okay. I will."
-- When a quote is a complete sentence, capitalize the first word. If not, don't. |
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Term
Use quotes when they are talking about how a word is used. This will frequently be introduced by words like
called
entitled
known as
labeled
named
signed
termed
the word |
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Definition
Please tell us what you mean by "nefarious."
The word "duplicitous" has special meaning here.
Was the door labeled "door A?"
Was the document signed "Mr. X?"
-- It is preferred now to use italics instead of quotes when talking about how a word is used. So in the examples above, nefarioius and duplicitous would be in italics, not quotes.
-- Do not use quotes around exhibits.
Let's having this labeled Plaintiff's Exhibit C. |
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Term
| When quoting more than one paragraph, use quote marks at the beginning of each new paragraph. Use one at the end. |
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Definition
I will read from page 8 of the deposition.
"QUESTION: You were there?
"ANSWER: Yes, I was.
"QUESTION: Okay. All day?
"ANSWER: No." |
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Term
| When the speaker actually says open quote or closed quote, make your choice whether you want to put the words or the quotation marks. Be consistent. If they don't say both open quote and closed quote, it's better to just put the words and let it stand. You won't know where the quote ends. |
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Definition
I will read the line. Quote, I saw him there, unquote.
He was, quote, happy as a clam, unquote.
He said, quote, you were there weren't you?
-- In the first two examples, because you know where the quote stops, you can just use the marks instead of the words if you want.
He was "happy as a clam." |
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Term
| Make sure to use single quote marks (apostrophe) for quotes within quotes. |
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Definition
The law reads: "The term 'by chance' means what it implies."
I said to him, "Give me the paper entitled 'To Be or Not to Be.'"
-- make sure to put the single quote at the end, even if the double quote follows, like the second example. So you have 3 quote marks. |
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Term
| When there is a question and a quote, put the question mark inside the quotation marks if the quoted part only is a question. If the quote is not a question, but the entire sentence is a question, put the question mark after the quote marks. |
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Definition
He asked, "Did you do that?"
Was the paper entitled "Things That Make You Go Hmm"? |
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Term
| Do not quote thoughts. Morson's says to capitalize the first word, but I disagree. You can if you choose, but I see no reason to. |
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Definition
I thought, if only it was there.
I wondered, can this work?
(Morson's would capitalize "if" and "can") |
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Term
| Use quotation marks around letters of the alphabet if they are likely to be misread. Capital letters can't be misread and don't need quotes. |
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Definition
Did A give B the paper?
Your "p" looks like a "z."
She's the buzzard, with a capital B.
Please put your initial, "m," on there. |
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Term
Things like articles, chapters, essays, poems, reports, short stories, and songs should be in quotes.
Larger works that are made up of smaller units themselves should be in italics. Also put the following in italics: tv shows, movies, paintings, sculptures, and statues. |
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Definition
I read the article, "Wacky Hairdos" today.
We saw the movie Ghost, then watched the tv show Desperate Housewives.
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Term
| Use quotes around nicknames when they are unusual or are placed within a person's first and last name. |
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Definition
I gave it to Bud.
I gave it to Bill "Bud" Walker.
He was called Tommy "The Sword." |
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Term
Quotation test
Q Did you tell him to do it
A I said dude don't do it
Q What was his answer
A His answer was no
Q Now when you say guilt by association what did that mean
A You know like he was guilty
Q Now I will read from the deposition.
QUESTION: What did you tell Tommy
ANSWER: I told him Tommy don't do it
QUESTION: Did he read the article From Fat to Skinny in Thirty Days
ANSWER: No he told me dude I saw how to lose weight on that TV show The Biggest Loser it was legendary |
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Definition
Q Did you tell him to do it?
A I said, "Dude, don't do it." (don't forget capital in dude, because complete sentence)
Q What was his answer?
A His answer was no. (one word response like "no" does not need quotes)
Q Now, when you say "guilt by association," what did that mean?
A You know, like, he was guilty.
Q Now, I will read from the deposition.
"QUESTION: What did you tell Tommy?
"ANSWER: I told him, 'Tommy, don't do it.'
"QUESTION: Did he read the article 'From Fat to Skinny in Thirty Days'?
"ANSWER: No. He told me, 'Dude, I saw how to lose weight on that TV show, The Biggest Loser.' It was legendary."
-- Don't forget the quote marks at the beginning of each of those paragraphs. Also the article and the quotes inside were in single quotes because the whole thing is in double quotes. Make sure to put not only the opening single quote but the ending single quotes.
Only one ending double quote at the end of the whole thing. And don't feel bad if you missed a couple. Man, that was difficult even for me! |
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