A quotation mark is a punctuation symbol that shows the exact words someone said or wrote. When you write “I love pizza,” the quotation marks tell readers that someone actually spoke or wrote those precise words.

Quotation marks come in pairs: one at the beginning and one at the end of the quoted words. In American writing, they look like tiny sixes and nines floating above the line: “like this.” (British writers sometimes use single marks: 'like this.')

You use quotation marks when writing dialogue in stories: Sarah said, “Let's go to the library.” They also appear when you quote exactly what someone wrote, like when a book report includes: The author states, “Whales are the largest animals on Earth.” Without quotation marks, readers wouldn't know where someone else's words begin and end.

Quotation marks also highlight special uses of words. If you write that your friend is a “genius” at losing his homework, the quotation marks show you're using the word ironically.

People often say “quote, unquote” when speaking to show they're quoting something: He said, quote, “I'll be there at noon,” unquote.