Comments on: An Argument in Defense of Quotation Marks

By: Joshua Zelinsky

Joshua Zelinsky — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:15:28 +0000

If this is being used to indicate the so-called nature then I’m particularly happy with it. Even if the claim were manifestly even more ridiculous we wouldn’t stick quotes around it. So for example we don’t stick quotes around “alien visitors” or “homeopathic remedy” even though those are just as nonsensical and possibly more so.

By: Daniel Howard

Daniel Howard — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:27:17 +0000

To my knowledge, Jesus Christ is a historical figure, who after being crucified, is claimed to have become reanimated, in an event his followers refer to as “The Resurrection.”

I think this is a great idea, but should be practiced judiciously. Thanks for pointing this out. Bravo!

Maybe some time when I recite the Pledge of Allegiance, instead of omitting “under God” I might make a big show of doing “air quotes” with my fingers.

-danny

By: CiCi

CiCi — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:18:20 +0000

that would be fantastic. it’d really make people pause while reading and…make them think.

By: Lagunatic

Lagunatic — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:22:36 +0000

“I” love this.

By: katie t

katie t — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:05:05 +0000

Dear “Feminists,” our time is nigh! Finally we can tell someone else they’re “overreacting,” these are “just words,” and everybody needs to quit being so “sensitive.” Huzzah!

By: Kelley

Kelley — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:11:57 +0000

Heehee! Love this. Thanks for sharing!

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:58:59 +0000

Using quotes around “God”, and other biblical related concepts such as “evil”, is probably what we all should be doing, especially while debating believers. I’ve found on one blog on the News Ltd. network that omitting the quotes is often attacked as “denying what we know to be true”.

Using them tells everybody: I’m using the work closest to your understanding of the concept, but don’t actually believe all the connotations of it.

Of course, using quotes all the time gets tedious, but it does help reduce perceived ambiguity.

By: AxeGrrl

AxeGrrl — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:23:01 +0000

I always write 'God' ~ mainly because there's no one definition for the word that fits every situation (or fits every person who uses it). I use the quotation marks almost to suggest the meaning: whatever you mean by 'God'.

By: ethanol

ethanol — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:51 +0000

Doesn’t really fit for an AP article, but in rural areas I have seen a strange tendency to use quotation marks for emphasis. Once in a hotel in Idaho I saw in the shower a sign informing guests to

please put the shower curtain inside the shower before using
“thanks”

which i took to mean “thanks, asshole”

By: Bastard Sheep

Bastard Sheep — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:14:26 +0000

I believe @FakeAPStyleBook put it best the other day on Twitter:

To denote air quotes, "use quotes."