[ **up: [[Australian English–-Grammar]]** ] --- # ‘single’ vs “double” quotation marks ## Australian English uses ‘single’ quotation marks Australian (and British) English uses ‘single’ quotation marks—although the US English “double” ones are present in popular usage.[^1] > ‘American English has permeated British/Australian English to such an extent that *many* people writing and publishing in the UK, Australia and New Zealand incorrectly use double quotation marks when they should be using single.’[^1] > ‘*[Style Manual for Authors Editors and Printers](http://www.australia.gov.au/about-government/publications/style-manual)*, the style manual adopted by the Australian government and universities, and the *[Macquarie Dictionary](https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/)* … clearly state that Australian English must always make use of the single quotation marks for speech and quoting.’[^1] --- ## Quoting within a quotation > ‘The only time we make use of double quotation marks in British/Australian English is for quoting within a quotation.’[^1] If this makes the end result look ambiguous (since they’re kinda smushed together), the solution is apparently to use a ‘thin space’—i.e. ‘inserting a regular space and then highlighting it and making it superscript (by selecting the superscript option in the Font menu on the Home tab).’^1 [^1]: ‘What is the Difference Between ‘Single’ and “Double” Quotation Marks?’, *Capstone Editing* (blog), 30 April 2017, https://www.capstoneediting.com.au/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-single-and-double-quotation-marks.