Lesson 1.3 - Direct Quotations: When only a word or phrase is quoted from another source...

Example:

Spoken Words:  The Smith family stated that they refuse to cut the timber because of the possibility of flooding and soil erosion.

Punctuated:  The Smith family stated that they “refuse to cut the timber” because of the possibility of flooding and soil erosion.

Note:  The example sentence used in B is quoting an excerpt of the example sentence in A,  so only the words “refuse to cut the timber” are surrounded by quotes because “refuse to cut the timber” is the direct quote from the original sentence.

(a.)  The Smith family, owners of a 300-acre tract, said, “We refuse to cut the timber because it might cause drainage problems.”

(b.)  The Smith family stated that they “refuse to cut the timber” because of the possibility of flooding and soil erosion.