When should you use air quotes?

The air-quoted phrase is—in the most common usage—very short, at most a few words. Air quotes are often used to express satire, sarcasm, irony or euphemism, among others, and are analogous to scare quotes in print.

Are air quotes an American thing?

This originated in the USA. In 1989, Spy Magazine included this: “When Bob and Betty describe themselves in these ways, they raise the middle and forefingers of both hands, momentarily forming twitching bunny ears – air quotes, the quintessential contemporary gesture that says We’re not serious.”

Are quotes scared or air quotes?

Scare quotes usually create an informal tone. Scare quotes are the written equivalent of air quotes, which are rarely used (or should rarely be used) in formal situations.

What do air quotation marks mean?

a gesture in which two fingers of each hand draw quotation marks in the air, used when uttering a word or phrase one does not think is appropriate or accurate.

Are air quotes rude?

The air quotes have just made fun of a very real problem, and yup, that is rude. Few people can successfully use them to comedic effect. They are usually best to avoid. But occasionally, one must use them, exactly the way they would, if they were writing, and needed quotes about what someone said.

How do you use scare quotes?

Scare quotes are quotation marks placed around a word or phrase from which you, the writer, wish to distance yourself because you consider that word or phrase to be odd or inappropriate for some reason.

How do you quote air?

Air quotes are made by extending the pointer and and middle finger on each hand into the air and curling then slightly to imitate the shape of quotation marks. One employs air quotes when stating something ironic or mocking.

Are scare quotes single or double?

And single quotation marks are generally used in headlines. But the warning quotes you’re referring to, sometimes called “scare quotes,” should always be double quotes, not singletons, in American writing.

Should I use scare quotes?

APA – The APA recommends using scare quotes “To introduce a word or phrase used as an ironic comment, as slang, or as an invented or coined expression. Use quotation marks the first time the word or phrase is used; thereafter, do not use quotation marks.”

Are air quotes single or double?

You’re probably familiar with quotation marks – those double scoops in the air (“ ”), used before and after we relay something someone said or wrote, verbatim….British Usage of Single Quotation Marks

• That’s not what Harry told me.
• My teacher said, ‘Sally, your mum always wears such lovely dresses.

Are air quotes acceptable?

Mike Myers used the air quotes in the first Austin Powers movie to describe a laser. But far worse than air quotes are quotation marks thrown into written sentences. When you use them, it should be in an ironic, not-serious way. Avoid quotation marks in serious writing except, of course, when you’re quoting someone.

Are scare quotes proper?

Unlike ordinary quotation marks, scare quotes may be used to convey an ironic, skeptical, or even derisive stance toward the word or phrase they enclose; they signal a nonstandard use, which often requires a reader to read between the lines to intuit the particular sense intended by the author.

What is a stand-in for scare quotes?

In spoken conversation, a stand-in for scare quotes is a hand gesture known as air quotes or finger quotes, which mimics quotation marks. A speaker may alternatively say “quote” before and “unquote” after quoted words, or say “quote unquote” before or after the quoted words, or pause before and emphasize the parts in quotes.

What do the scare quotes in this passage mean?

The scare quotes could indicate that the word is not one the writer would normally use, or that the writer thinks there is something dubious about the word groupies or its application to these people.

How do you use scare quotes in a paper?

For now, let’s look at how three major style guides approach this issue: APA – The APA recommends using scare quotes “To introduce a word or phrase used as an ironic comment, as slang, or as an invented or coined expression. Use quotation marks the first time the word or phrase is used; thereafter, do not use quotation marks.”

What are some examples of scare quotes for groupies?

For example: Some “groupies” were following the band. The scare quotes could indicate that the word is not one the writer would normally use, or that the writer thinks there is something dubious about the word groupies or its application to these people.