09.02.08
Quoth the “raven,” say no more
We have all skeptiquoted someone at some time or another. “He said he was ‘visiting a sick friend,’” when the he in question was dallying with his mistress—that sort of thing. Placing the words “visiting a sick friend” in quotes communicates skepticism, a sly wink, or bold acknowledgement that the quoted material involves at best a euphemism and at worst a lie.
So why do so many people place quote marks around words and phrases that are hardly dubious, and clearly true? That’s the thrust of a fun blog called (I won’t put the name in quotes), The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks.
Now, at least one word observer contends that such “usage” is not unnecessary at all—just misunderstood. Specifically, I’m referring to Grant Barrett, who has joined Martha Barnette on the A Way With Words NPR program (I say “away with words,” too! They’re so troublesome . . .). As you’ll see here, Barrett points out that such quote marks are intended for emphasis, and he calls them “shout quotes.” Barrett’s point is good—in that the intent in overused quote marks usually is indeed emphasis. But we should judge not intent but success, not what the writer sought to communicate but is communicated. The primary uses of quotes—to indicate specific spoken or written words, and to signal sardonic, doubtful or smirking reference—are too powerful for “emphasis” to overcome such implications. This is particularly so when the shout toolkit has so many other devices. Am I “shouting” by using those quotes, or do I accomplish SHOUTING shouting *shouting* shouting !shouting! shouting shouting more efficiently with other typographic devices? (I’d do a double underline if it didn’t mean getting a Ph.D in HTML coding . . .).
Of course, we’ll continue to see “quote” mis”use”, and I’ll grant that it might even become increasingly accepted should it spreads. I accept and cherish a changing language, though I champion change when it fills a void—and using quotes to “shout” when you can SHOUT, AND SO ON in so many other ways is redundant “at best” and confusing and mockable at worst.
By the by, Barrett refers to the skeptical quotes as “scare quotes.” I like to call them “wink-wink-nudge-nudge” quotes. Know what I mean? Then say no more!
, 
and 
. Feel free to 
