I have sometimes used quote marks to quote myself hypothetically replying to someone when trying to illustrate a point, or when paraphrasing someone. However, this can get confusing if people think you are quoting what someone actually said.
i.e. Will, when you said "using expressions tongue-in-cheek or with sarcasm" I thought of replying "well, there are other ways of saying that", but I decided not to.
In the above bit, it looks like I've quoted Will and myself saying things, but in fact I've paraphrased Will (from memory, for example) and got the quote wrong, and I never actually said what I've used quote marks for for my hypothetical comment.
A better way to write the above would be:
i.e. Will, when you said "using expressions tongue-in-cheek or with sarcasm" (paraphrasing from memory) I thought of replying "well, there are other ways of saying that" (unstated comment), but I decided not to.
Unfortunately, if you remove the quote marks, it becomes difficult to see where the different levels of narration begin and end (in that sentence I am switching between narrative voices, from the main author-reader one to a paraphrasing voice to one voicing my unspoken thoughts.
Some I use single quote marks to make it clear it is something separate, but not a direct quote:
i.e. Will, when you said 'using expressions tongue-in-cheek or with sarcasm' (paraphrasing from memory) I thought of replying 'well, there are other ways of saying that' (unstated comment), but I decided not to.
But as long as the context makes clear what is happening, it should be OK.
In a similar way, some really strange literature uses this as a device to messes with readers' minds, leaving them confused as to who is speaking, and when, to whom.
Carcharoth
On Sun, Mar 22, 2009 at 7:56 PM, WJhonson@aol.com wrote:
Enquoted text can mean (in my book):
- You are quoting verbatim some source; or
- You are using an expression tongue-in-cheek or with implied sarcasm,
hostility or a questioning stance (i.e. John and Pat are "good friends"; Mr Smith is in his "private compartment"; I appreciate your "delightful" conversation)
Will Johnson
p.s. Sometimes I have use "*" for this purpose and I've seen other's do it as well. It's much easier than trying to underline or bold some phrase.
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