Quotation Marks Optional Around Very Short Responses
The Quotation Mark
Rulebase Summary
For very short responses such as 'yes,' 'no,' 'fine,' 'sure,' or 'okay,' it is easier and just as acceptable to omit the quotation marks. Sometimes the difference between what should be quoted and what should not is very subtle — for short responses, either way works.
Examples
Q. What was your answer? A. My answer was 'no.'
Q. What was your answer? A. My answer was no.
Short response — quotes optional. Both forms are acceptable.
A. When I asked him how he felt, he said okay or 'Okay.'
A. When I asked him how he felt, he said okay. (or: he said, 'Okay.')
Both forms are equally acceptable for short responses.
Transcript Notes
If the responses are long or part of an extended exchange the witness is recalling, paragraph the speakers separately and use quotation marks throughout for clarity. The witness is sworn to tell the truth — use quotes when they aid the record, omit them for the trivial single-word responses.
Style Guide References (3)
Morson's
BGGP
BGGP