It is said that use of quotation marks and italicized words is the mark a person who means what they say. Either that, or using them in the wrong place messes with "people".
Scare quotes serve a valuable purpose. I even use them verbally in class (with hand signals) when distinguishing a technical meaning from a "common" meaning that contains a hidden misconception.
We use hand-signaled quotation marks quite a bit. However, as none of us is a native speaker, we probably do a number of odd things to this language...
5 comments:
I wouldn't worry about it *too* much, just be "careful" when others are around. (You never know what they might "think.")
It is said that use of quotation marks and italicized words is the mark a person who means what they say.
Either that, or using them in the wrong place messes with "people".
You aren't losing your mind until you start putting apostrophes in the wrong place. But you're teetering dangerously on the edge.
Scare quotes serve a valuable purpose. I even use them verbally in class (with hand signals) when distinguishing a technical meaning from a "common" meaning that contains a hidden misconception.
We use hand-signaled quotation marks quite a bit. However, as none of us is a native speaker, we probably do a number of odd things to this language...
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