[Forum] RE: frivolity

Haha, Pixna! The more I read, the more I realize that many everyday expressions were once similes or metaphors: [list][*]lend me an ear [*]give her a hand [*]give him lip [*]rolled her eyes [*]got his nose bent out of shape [*]cracked him up [*]kept her at arm's length [*]kicked myself[/l

[Forum] RE: Must quotation marks be repeated once new word is introduced?

In your example, "medium" is not being used as a word, but functionally, as its meaning in context. I wouldn't put quotes around it at all.  Not even the first time. Unless you actually meant for the first usage of the word to be in scare quotes. Then, I guess it's okay. But certainly do not put

[Forum] RE: Punctuation Relative to Scare Quotes

British convention is to put those periods outside the quotes, which makes intuitive sense to me, since it's only the word itself that people are quoting. When I learned that CMOS recommends that periods and commas go inside the quotes it took an effort for me to switch. I still find myself typing

[Forum] RE: quotation marks

I believe the CMOS section that applies is this one on scare quotes: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/book/ed17/part2/ch07/psec057.html Yes, the "I" is used in an unusual way, and thus could justify the quotes once or twice, but my concern would be that if this discussion about the "I" goes on

[Forum] RE: English terms with sacred aspect in other language(s)

I was going to suggest the same two possible solutions (though without the experience that Pixna brings to the issue). Caps show that it's a special phrase that means something more along a formal line. And quotes show the same. I don't think that it will necessarily seem like ironic scare quotes

[Forum] RE: How to treat definitions

I think the definition should be roman and in quotes, since you are quoting from a dictionary (I assume). And since (according to the section Tut refers to) a word, referred to as the word itself) can be in either italics or quotes, and you are trying to eliminate unnecessary scare quotes, I would

[Forum] RE: quote/period placement

Steve - thanks for the reminder on scare quotes -- this is exactly what he's doing -- except the words being framed aren't being used in an unusual way, he just wants them emphasized.  After 20, or ever 10, on one page - page after page - I'm ready to scream and his readers will toss the book. I

[Forum] RE: scare quotes

Thanks, everyone.

[Forum] RE: Hyphens or Quotes for this Phrase?

I'd use hyphens and hit the bathtub. The scare quotes look silly, like there is some sort of irony being suggested, as if the detectives were blind and couldn't literally be on the lookout.

[Forum] RE: Use of single quotation marks specifically for scare quotes

It sounds to me like a self-perpetuating phenomenon. Somebody started using single quotes, somebody else liked it and picked it up, then it just snowballed and now everybody thinks it's normal.