Hyphens Quote by Eric Partridge
“Like italics and hyphens, quotation marks are to be used as sparingly as possible. They should light the way, not darken it.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms, 1970
Use quotation marks sparingly, like italics, to keep writing clear and focused.
In simple terms: Use quotes only when needed to avoid clutter.
Key Takeaway
Apply minimal punctuation for clarity.
Themes
writing
clarity
punctuation
style
editing
Mood
analytical
reflective
Type
advice
instructional
When to use this quote
- editing manuscripts
- teaching writing
- publishing guidelines
- copyediting
Key Concepts
Linguistics
communication theory
minimalism
Questions to Reflect On
- When is a quotation essential?
- How does sparing punctuation affect readability?
A Different Perspective
Over‑editing can strip necessary nuance; balance is needed.
