From: Nick Arnett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
I am "tired" of all of the "unnecessary" quotation marks that people seem to "need" to put around various "words" and "phrases." My
"weariness" at seeing so many "extra" quotation marks grows from an increasing "conviction" that they are merely a "substitute" for "good writing," by people who don't "know" how to indicate "emphasis" on certain "words or phrases."
Back in high school, one of my teachers ranted about this, and then
told us a good rule of them for when they are appropriate. She said
that putting quotations around a word/term means you are saying it
needs to be defined/explained. That might be because you are
introducing an unfamiliar technical term, or, more commonly these days,
as scare quotes, using the word/term in a sarcastic sense or are disputing it.
Ie: You might use "freedom fighters" in quotes, if you actually consider them
terrorists.
I don't really see completely misplaced quotes too often, but often see them
(over)used in assorted political diatribes. I.e.: referencing about Bush's 2000
"election".
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