Correct use of quote marks
When using quotation marks in Spanish, I have been told to use << >> as opposed to " ". Is this still accurate?
Also, when the quote is at the end of a sentence, does the full stop (.) go inside or outside the quote marks? (<< xxxx>>. or << xxxx.>>)
Thanks Rob
4 Answers
Guillemets (angle quotes) are traditional and still very much in use, but few people object to the use of double quotation marks.
Full stops go outside the quote, but exclamation points or question marks that are part of the quoted material go inside. See Do commas go inside or outside of quotation marks?.
Update: Wikipedia describes how to make guillemets.
Hello Horanr,
Welcome to the SpanishDict forum 
Yes, I believe that this is still the case (true)! 
I frequently use these same opening? and closing quotation marks ?when I write my captions for Picture (or photo) of the Day and sentences for Word of the day, if I need to show a character is speaking!
One of the native speakers (I think it was Waidh) wrote a comment in the comments section under my post, a little while ago, saying that these marks are the correct ones to use, but that not many people use them today because few people have the (correct) keys for them on their computer keyboards!
However, I am sure that the markings you have used: < >
will also be clear enough to illustrate (indicate) the same thing!
You can also write quotations like this:
-- Me dijo semana pasada que no podría asistir la reunión en là sala de profesores, hoy.
-- Me dijo la misma cosa, ayer.
Regarding the positioning of the full stop (period mark) I also believe that it would fall inside the quotation marks, as shown in the following example, below:
?¡Tengo que irme ahora! ?
= "I have to leave, now! "
...but I am not completely sure about that; perhaps a native or advanced speaker could confirm that!
Update: Having read the information by Gerald Ecklestein on Wordreference.com, courtesy of the link provided by jtaniel, it appears that I was wrong/ mistaken about the positioning of the punctuation marks which in Spanish are usually placed outside the quote unless they are ¿? or ¡! and form part of the quote; in which case they are placed inside! I have learnt something useful today, thanks to your question, thank you! Please check out jtaniel's excellent link!
I hope this helps
Corrijan mi español, por favor
Yes they are correct.
Please in speech do not use two sets of wiggling fingers each side of your head
that gets right up my nose
