Quotation marks
If the independent clauses are not linked by a conjunction, a period is used between them.
"I told her that I loved her," John said. "She told me she loved me too."
When a direct quotation is divided into two parts by expressions like "he said," "I replied," "she answered," put quotes on either side of the expression and do not cap the first word of the second quoted section.
"Samuel offered me some meth," John said, "but I didn't take it."
Use quotation marks around titles of works that are a part of a whole, such as a chapter in a book, a scene from a play, etc.
A. I thought the article "Why Should You Use a Court Reporter" was excellent.
Use quotation marks to set off direct quotations.
A. I told him, "Go ahead but I'm not going with you."
Capitalize the first word of a quotation if it begins a complete sentence or represents a complete thought.
A. I told him, "I advise you to tel the truth."
When an adjective before a noun is very long, use quotes instead of hyphens.
A. It was a "walking on sunshine" kind of day.
If a document is given to the court reporter to be copied for the record, the material must be quoted exactly as originally written. Include incorrect spellings, faulty punctuation, or incorrect grammar if any appears in the original.
A. Point 2 reads, "Please check the tolerance on this piston and inform Mr. Anderson of any problems."
When a witness testifies in the form of a direct quote and believes those words to be accurate, use quotations marks, even if the speaker does not render the quote perfectly.
A. The last thing he said to me was, "I'm going to Nights on Broadway tonight. You can meet me there later if you want."
Use quotation marks around words that are commonly used but are being used with an unusual meaning.
A. The technician had all of his wires and connections in his "spaghetti" box.
Don't use quotes or italics for Latin legal terms if they are considered to be regular English words.
A. Your Honor, I will be representing myself pro se.
When the quoted words are making a statement, but the rest of the sentence is asking a question, put the interrog inside the ending quotation mark with the quoted question.
Did you tell your sister, "I'm the boss of you?"
"Discourse" is another word for conversations. In court reporting, it means a conversations that has taken place.
Direct discourse is recounting a conversation using the exact words that were said; indirect discourse is recounting a conversation but paraphrasing the words.
First, second, and third person are ways of describing points of view.
First person is the I/we perspective; second person is the you perspective; third person is the he/she/it/they perspective.
Speakers often make up words as they talk. They often sound like and are spelled like English words. Quote these words to differentiate them from "real" words.
Harry said he had "carpolespy." As soon as he started his car, he got sleepy.
Quote conversations in the same person as they were spoken. If they are spoken in a different tense or person, do not use quotes.
Hazel said, "I don't believe anything he said to me."
If you have two sets of quotation marks, single and double, at the end of a sentence, periods and commas go inside both sets of quotes. Question marks are placed inside of the quotes if the quote itself is a question.
He asked me, "What do you mean by the term 'illegal alien'?"
Use quotation marks for fragments of quotes material.
His threat to me was "full of sound and fury," but I didn't really take it seriously.
Quote titles of complete works or lengthier works. Italics are preferred if they are supported in the program.
I loved the music from <Phantom of the Opera.> <italicized>
Generally, do not use quotation marks for unspoken thoughts or wishes, but capitalize the first word of the complete expression.
I thought, If only I would have talked to her on Friday, perhaps she wouldn't have killed herself.
When using quotation marks, keep periods and commas inside the final quotation mark; keep semicolons and colons outside.
I told him I was "incensed," and then he apologized.
If a document is read in court and parts are intentionally deleted in the reading, use the ellipsis points to show the omissions.
If the entire quote reads, "I started my job on January 8th, if I remember correctly, and I quit on July 10th," punctuate the following accordingly: You said in your testimony, "I started my job on January 8th...and I quit on July 10th."
The distinction between using quotation marks and italics involves the completeness of the work. The title of a magazine, newspaper, book, play, movie, symphony is italicized. If the title is the name of an article, chapter, scene, act, song, or work of art, it is quoted.
If the program you're using does not allow for italics, use quotation marks instead.
If the error is glaring, you can insert [sic], but some reporters don't like it, so ask.
If you italicize the word, you don't need to use [sic].
Use only one mark of ending punctuation with inner and outer quotations.
Instead of saying "et cetera," in her phone calls, Janet always says, "So I was trying to back up the car and cha cha cha."
The trend has been away from quotation marks and underlining and toward
Italics.
When the words "quote" or "unquote" are used, surround them with commas. You may also use quotation marks, but ask your clients' preference. When quote/unquote are said together, put a slash in between them.
Jack said, quote, "I have never seen as much wind as we've had lately."
Do not set off indirect quotes with quotation marks.
Jennifer said that she would be available if I needed her.
Put the interrog inside the final quotation mark on a question that ends in quotes.
My cousin asked me, "Can you come over on Friday night?"
Use quotation marks to set off the titles and names of the following compositions: articles, chapters, essays, poems, reports, short stories, songs.
One of my favorite hymns is "How Great Thou Art."
Titles and names of literary works in larger units that may consist of smaller units should be italicized: books, cartoons, magazines, newspapers, operas, periodicals, plays.
One of the primary periodicals for court reporters is <The Journal of Court Reporting,> published by the National Court Reporters Association.
If there are additional quotes within quotes, alternate from single to double as necessary.
Or, at this point, you might want to give up punctuating altogether!
Verb tenses:
Present tense is when an action is happening currently; past tense is an action that is no longer being done; future tense is when an action has yet to be done.
If a word or phrase is being defined or further identified put quotation marks around it.
Q. And what is your understanding of "jurisprudence"?
If you cannot tell whether you need quotation marks or where the quote begins or ends, do not use quotation marks.
Q. I am reading to you from Exhibit 4 which says I didn't show up for the interview.
Use quotation marks at the beginning of every new paragraph of material that is continuously quoted. At the conclusion of the entire passage, use final quotation marks.
Q. Reading from your deposition on page 18, lines 15 through 21: "QUESTION: Did you receive any phone calls, letters, or e-mails from the president of ACME between May 10th and August 31st of 1997? "ANSWER:
If you aren't sure whether to use quotes, say the words out loud. If they sound like you are speaking them (first person/present tense) to someone directly, use quotes. If it sounds like someone else is recounting their perspective or the words are in a different themes, don't use quotes.
Q. What did Marcy say to you?
Use punctuation in front of quotation marks based on the words in the sentence rather than the quotes themselves. Since we punctuate based on the meaning of the complete sentence, there will rarely be punctuation before the quotes word(s).
Q. What did you mean when you said he stood "in opposition" to your viewpoint?
Single quotes are used ONLY inside of double quotes. Follow the rules for using double quotes with single quotes.
She said, "Could you please email me a copy of 'Improving Your Real-time Writing'?"
Capitalize the first and last word of all titles, whether they are quoted, italicized, or underlined. Also capitalize the other words of titles except short prepositions, short conjunctions, and the articles "a," "an," and "the."
The movie <What Women Want> was a comedy starring Mel Gibson. <italicized>
The following should be italicized: motion pictures, paintings, sculptures, statues, television programs.
Two of my favorite movies are <We Were Soldiers Once> and <Steel Magnolias.>
If "foreign" words are used commonly in English parlance, do not quote them. To determine if the words are foreign, look them up in the dictionary. If they are not included as part of the English language, quote or italicize them.
We had tacos and enchiladas for dinner.
You only need to quote the first and maybe the second instance of a word.
When it is used thereafter, do not quote.
When a quotation appears within a quotation, use a single quotation mark for the inner quotation.
Your answer reads, "I don't know what you mean by the word 'assimilate' in this question."
