1. AP Uses Double Quotation Marks for Most Cases

AP Style uses double quotation marks (“ ”) for:

• Direct quotes
• Titles of short works (songs, episodes, poems, articles)
• Words used ironically or unusually
• Phrases being discussed

Examples

• “We’re ready,” the coach said.
• Fans loved the song “Midnight Drive.”
• The update introduced a new “smart mode.”

Single Quotes (‘ ’)

Used only for quotes within quotes.

Example:

• “He told me, ‘We’re winning tonight,’ and walked away,” the player said.

AP Style keeps it simple:

Double quotes for everything except quotes inside quotes.

2. Periods and Commas Always Go InsideQuotation Marks

This is one of the most important AP Style punctuation rules.

Correct (AP Style)

• “We’re ready,” the coach said.
• The update was labeled “critical.”
• She clicked “Submit,” then refreshed the page.

Incorrect

• “We’re ready”, the coach said.
• The update was labeled “critical”.

Even if the punctuation logically belongs outside the quote, AP Style always places commas and periods inside.

3. Colons and Semicolons Go OutsideQuotation Marks

AP Style flips the rule for colons and semicolons.

Correct

• The coach shouted “focus”; the team responded.
• The update was labeled “critical”: users needed to install it immediately.

Incorrect

• The coach shouted “focus;” the team responded.
• The update was labeled “critical:” users needed to install it immediately.

Why?

Colons and semicolons relate to the sentence structure, not the quoted material.

4. Question Marks and Exclamation Points: It Depends

These punctuation marks go inside the quotes only if they apply to the quoted material.

Inside the quotes (the quote contains the question/exclamation)

• “Are we winning?” the coach asked.
• “That was incredible!” the player said.

Outside the quotes (the sentence asks the question, not the quote)

• Did he really say “We’re winning”?
• Why did she shout “now”?

This is the only punctuation category where placement depends on meaning.

5. Quotation Marks for Titles (AP Style)

AP Style uses quotation marks for short works, not italics.

Use quotes for:

• Song titles
• TV episodes
• Articles
• Poems
• Chapters
• Speeches

Examples

• “The Last Shot” (TV episode)
• “Firelight” (song)
• “The Rise of AI” (article)

Do NOT use quotes for:

• Books
• Movies
• TV shows
• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Albums
• Video games

These are capitalized but not placed in quotes.

6. Quotation Marks for Irony, Slang, or Unusual Usage

Use quotes to signal that a word is being used in a special or ironic way.

Examples

• The “secret feature” wasn’t much of a secret.
• He claimed he was “fine,” but he clearly wasn’t.
• The “smart mode” wasn’t very smart.

Avoid overusing this — it can look snarky or unprofessional.

7. Common Quotation Mark Mistakes Writers Must Avoid

1. Putting periods/commas outside the quotes

Incorrect:

The update was labeled “critical”.  

Correct:

The update was labeled “critical.”

2. Using single quotes instead of double quotes

Incorrect:

‘We’re ready,’ the coach said.  

Correct:

“We’re ready,” the coach said.

3. Using quotes for emphasis

Incorrect:

The team had a “great” season.  

(Reads as sarcasm)

Correct:

The team had a great season.

4. Quoting too much

Quotes should be used strategically, not as filler.

8. Examples in Real Article Writing

Periods/Commas Inside

• Fans called the trailer “amazing.”

Colons/Semicolons Outside

• The coach shouted “focus”; the team responded.

Double Quotes

• “We’re ready,” the captain said.

Single Quotes Inside Double Quotes

• “He told me, ‘We’re winning tonight,’ before the game,” she said.

9. Final Takeaway for Total Apex Writers

Quotation marks are essential for clarity, tone, and AP‑Style compliance.

AP Style Essentials

• Double quotes for almost everything
• Periods and commas inside
• Colons and semicolons outside
• Single quotes only for quotes within quotes
• Use quotes for short works, not long works
• Use quotes for irony or unusual usage sparingly

Mastering quotation marks helps contributors produce clean, polished, high‑performing content across every Total Apex vertical — from news to gaming to sports to lifestyle.