Sitaattimerkkejä

Sitaattimerkkejä, commonly known as quotation marks in English, are punctuation marks used to indicate a direct quotation or to highlight a specific word or phrase. In Finnish, the most common forms are the opening quotation mark (" ) and the closing quotation mark (” ).

These marks are essential for distinguishing the exact words spoken or written by someone else from the author's own text. When quoting speech, they enclose the verbatim dialogue. For example: Hän sanoi: "Olen väsynyt." (He said: "I am tired.")

Sitaattimerkkejä are also used to draw attention to a word or phrase that is being used in a special sense, perhaps ironically or as a foreign term. For instance: Hänen mielestään se oli "nerokas" idea, vaikka se epäonnistui täysin. (In his opinion, it was a "brilliant" idea, even though it failed completely.)

In some contexts, single quotation marks (' ') might be used, particularly for nested quotations, although double quotation marks are generally preferred for primary quotations. The precise usage can sometimes vary depending on style guides and specific publications. Proper use of sitaattimerkkejä ensures clarity and accuracy in written communication, preventing ambiguity about the source and intention of the text.