Page 496 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

punctuation (6): quotation marks 478
A dash can introduce an afterthought, or something unexpected and surprising.
We'll be arriving on Monday morning - at least, J think so. And then we met Bob - with Lisa, believe it or not!
For the use of hyphens (as in hard·working or co·operative), see 559.
478 punctuation (6): quotation marks
Quotation marks can be single C...') or double (u•.."). They are also called
'inverted commas' in British English.
1 direct speech
We use quotation marks (single or double) when we quote direct speech. For quotations inside quotations, we use double quotation marks inside single (or single inside double).
'His last words,' said Albert, 'were "Close that bloody window".'
2 special use of words
We often put quotation marks (usually single) round words which are used in special ways - for example when we talk about them, when we use them as titles, or when we give them special meanings.
People disagree about how to use the word 'disinterested'. His next book was 'Heart ofDarkness'.
A textbook can be a 'wall' between the teacher and the class.
479 punctuation (7): apostrophe /a'pnstrafi:/ We use apostrophes (') for three main reasons.
1 missing letters
Apostrophes replace letters in contracted forms (see 143). can't (= cannot) I'd (= I would/had)
it's (= it is/has) who's (= who is/has)
2 possessives
We use apostrophes before or after possessive -s (see 439). the girl's father Charles's wife my parents' house
Possessive determiners and pronouns (e.g. yours, its) do not have apostrophes. This money is yours. (NOT ••• Jl6ur's.)
The cat had not had itsfood yet. (NOT ••• it'sJYJf!Jd ...)
Whose house did she stay in? (NOT V/h6'S ...)
3 special plurals
Words which do not usually have plurals sometimes have an apostrophe when a plural form is written.
It is a nice idea, but there are a lot ofif's.
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