Question

In which sentence are quotation marks correctly used?

A. In his poem Crossing the Bar, Tennyson compares death to setting out on a “sea voyage” and “asks” that there be no sadness of farewell when “he” dies.

B. In his poem Crossing the Bar, Tennyson compares “death to setting out on a sea” voyage and asks that there be no sadness of farewell when he dies.

C. In his poem Crossing the Bar, Tennyson compares death to setting out on a sea voyage and asks that “there be no” sadness of farewell when he dies.

D. In his poem “Crossing the Bar,” Tennyson compares death to setting out on a sea voyage and asks that “there be no sadness of farewell” when he dies.

Answer 1

D. In his poem “Crossing the Bar,” Tennyson compares death to setting out on a sea voyage and asks that “there be no sadness of farewell” when he dies.

Answer 2

In which sentence are quotation marks correctly used?

D. In his poem “Crossing the Bar,” Tennyson compares death to setting out on a sea voyage and asks that “there be no sadness of farewell” when he dies.

In sentence D, quotation marks are used for two reasons:

• Firstly, to mention the name of the poem. Quotation marks are used for smaller works of literature (poems, ballads, short stories), whereas italics for larger ones (novels).

• Secondly, to refer to a passage from the poem. This gives credit to a piece that wasn't written by the person that is sharing the opinion.