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For all the grown-up kids out there who didn’t particularly enjoy grammar classes, let’s have a quick reminder what quotation marks are, since it will be relevant to get the distorted and alternate meanings shared in this post.

So, these punctuation marks are used in pairs in various writing systems to set off direct speech, a quotation, or a phrase. You want to use quotation marks with direct quotes, with titles of certain works, to imply alternate meanings, and to write words as words.

There are cases when quotation marks are used not for actual quotes, but rather to carry a connotation of sarcasm, a tongue-in-cheek admission that the thing in quotes isn't actually what it's said to be. When that happens, things take a weird turn.

Scroll down below and see how suspiciously used quotes look and sound in practice. Now, although we cannot really tell whether the authors of these misused quotes used them deliberately or it happened by accident, we cannot deny the entertainment of it all. Psst! More misused quotes can be found in Bored Panda's previous feature right here.

#1

How Touching

How Touching

bea_easter12_ Report

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That other Panda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m, pretty sure you’re NOT SUPPOSED to put your hands together… it’ll really just make things worse…

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#2

Are You Implying It Was Me Who Poop In The Grass?

Are You Implying It Was Me Who Poop In The Grass?

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#3

Threatening Church

Threatening Church

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Max
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is that where they dunk you in the baptismal font head-first and hold you there?

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“When quotation marks are misused, it changes the meaning of the sentence,” Alex Wong, the marketing expert, book author and creator of “Hijack Copywriter” told Bored Panda in an interview. According to Wong, a misused quotation mark, comma or apostrophe can make a huge difference.

“This can sometimes cause funny unintended results. For example, each of these three sentences have a different meaning:

'She' was filled with excitement.

She was 'filled' with excitement.

She was filled with 'excitement.'”

Wong believes that people fail to pay attention to where they place their quotation marks. “Compared to periods and commas, quotations get much less focus. You’re more likely to use a comma or period in a sentence than a quote.”

#6

Alleged “Filmmaker”

Alleged “Filmmaker”

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“The most common use of quotation marks is for dialogue, such as when someone is speaking. For example, Fred said, ‘The weather is lovely today,’” Wong explained. He said that quotations are also commonly used when you are including a quote in a blog post or essay.

“The researcher states: ‘5 in 10 Americans will get into a car accident sometime.’” He added that he made up this statement.

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#9

The Cop Cars In Orange Country Florida All Say Making A Difference In Comic Sans With Useless Quotation Marks. Makes It Seem Like They Aren't Making A Difference

The Cop Cars In Orange Country Florida All Say Making A Difference In Comic Sans With Useless Quotation Marks. Makes It Seem Like They Aren't Making A Difference

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Francesa Miller
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Comic sans is a great font for dyslexics. It's very readable and doesn't deserve all the hate it gets.

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The marketing expert and professional writer also shared a couple of the most common writing mistakes that people make. The first most common mistake is “confusing similar words that sound the same but have different meanings. Here are some common mistakes: Your/you’re; Its/it’s; There/their/they're; Whether/weather; To/too/two; By/buy/bye.”

Many people also tend to confuse similar-sounding words with different meanings, Wong argues. For example: “Affects/effects; Further/farther; chews/choose; addition/edition.”The third common mistake Wong notes is using sentence fragments or incomplete sentences. For example, Correct: “I stayed home from work because I had a fever.” Incorrect: “I stayed home from work. Because I had a fever.”

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#11

The Place You Go When You Need A Negative Test

The Place You Go When You Need A Negative Test

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#12

This Sign At A Hotel I Stayed In Last Night

This Sign At A Hotel I Stayed In Last Night

TintarellaDiLuna Report

#13

It's There To Fool The Horses

It's There To Fool The Horses

a_leprechaun Report

Previously, Bored Panda spoke with Searchlights, one of the moderators for the '"Suspiciously" Used Quotation Marks' online community. According to moderator, "I tend to think it's related to the challenge of finding nuance and tone in text. People want to emphasize a word, and for whatever reason they think putting it in quotations gets them there."

"Generally, the use of quotation marks (when they're not an actual quotation) carries a connotation of sarcasm, or of a tongue-in-cheek admission that the thing in quotes isn't actually what it's said to be. That's what has the effect of making the statement suspicious," they explained. 

"My favorite examples usually come from the food service industry. There's something alarming about chicken being written dubiously as "chicken" (what is it, really?)," they said.

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#17

Miami-Dade Police At Their Best

Miami-Dade Police At Their Best

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#18

So What Kind Of Milk Are We Talking, Exactly?

So What Kind Of Milk Are We Talking, Exactly?

Boone710 Report

#20

Appropriate Suspicious Quotes

Appropriate Suspicious Quotes

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#21

Just Saw This In A McDonald's

Just Saw This In A McDonald's

CorpseToes Report

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Max
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, at least they admit that their wages are too low to count as such. Also, barring discussions of pay is illegal in many countries including the US.

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#22

I Don't Understand What They Were Trying To Accomplish With The Quotes

I Don't Understand What They Were Trying To Accomplish With The Quotes

InsrtGeekHere Report

#23

The Pharmacy Thinks I'm Fueling Someone's Drug Habit

The Pharmacy Thinks I'm Fueling Someone's Drug Habit

Tsalikon Report

#24

I Don’t Think I Want To Know What This Means

I Don’t Think I Want To Know What This Means

theoddhedgehog Report

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Lee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe, MAYBE "Homemade" can be excused because technically the soup was not made in a home and brought the the restaurant. Not sure how to explain "soups" though.

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Pirates of Zen Pants
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For years, there was a sign like this on Charles Street in Boston. I ate at that place once and can confirm it was "soup."

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Jerry Mathers
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This sentence shows not one but two incorrect uses of quotation marks.

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#25

I’ve Said It Before And I’ll Say It Again: Quotation Marks Are Not For Emphasis

I’ve Said It Before And I’ll Say It Again: Quotation Marks Are Not For Emphasis

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Max
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I suspect this comes from the days of typewriters, where the only method of emphasis was to use quotation marks or to change the ribbon from black to red. As a typewriter user, I prefer the latter option.

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#26

No Wonder It’s So Small

No Wonder It’s So Small

StrangeMeeps Report

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Ben
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The "good" is a rating and a direct quote from the report. So quotation marks are valid.

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#33

Is “Dipping Powder” Code For Coke?

Is “Dipping Powder” Code For Coke?

waitlikewhatlol7456 Report

#34

Is It Tho? As Seen Heading North On I-95 In Boca Raton, FL Yesterday

Is It Tho? As Seen Heading North On I-95 In Boca Raton, FL Yesterday

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#39

I Don't Think I Want To Bring My Dog Here

I Don't Think I Want To Bring My Dog Here

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#40

"Our" Community

"Our" Community

Nehocoste Report

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Queen Boudicca
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow. That is actually frightening. Needless to say...don't pass through or visit and expect any "help"

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#41

Something Tells Me I'm Not Going To Get A Prize Every Time

Something Tells Me I'm Not Going To Get A Prize Every Time

PGPeachGames Report

#42

Found This Subtle Threat In Pakistan

Found This Subtle Threat In Pakistan

AdAny6792 Report

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#45

My Cousin Got This For His 18th Birthday

My Cousin Got This For His 18th Birthday

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#46

Found At My Local "Mall Sword Store"

Found At My Local "Mall Sword Store"

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#48

Now That's A Clever Slogan

Now That's A Clever Slogan

TheGuyWithTheComment Report

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Ivo H
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't see any problem here? The quotation marks are used to signalize direct speech, so it's not misused? (the slogan is still great though)

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#50

Sure

Sure

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Local foodie
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How is this misusing quote marks? It’s quoting something someone said, right?

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Note: this post originally had 130 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.