Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
130submissions
Finished
50 Hilarious Cases Of Misused Quotation Marks That Gave Hilarious Results (New Pics)
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.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
How Touching
That other Panda 3 years ago
I’m, pretty sure you’re NOT SUPPOSED to put your hands together… it’ll really just make things worse…
RELATED:
#2
Are You Implying It Was Me Who Poop In The Grass?
#3
Threatening Church
“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.”
#4
The What Sauce?
#5
I Don't Find This Very Reassuring
#6
Alleged “Filmmaker”
“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.
#7
"Heroes"
#8
He Was Definitely Loved
#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
Francesa Miller 3 years ago
Comic sans is a great font for dyslexics. It's very readable and doesn't deserve all the hate it gets.
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.”
#10
Vaguely Threatening Church
#11
The Place You Go When You Need A Negative Test
#12
This Sign At A Hotel I Stayed In Last Night
#13
It's There To Fool The Horses
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.
#14
Thanks, I Hate The Magic Stool Bus
#15
This Massage Parlor Is A Little Sus
#16
When You Find Out That You're Adopted
#17
Miami-Dade Police At Their Best
#18
So What Kind Of Milk Are We Talking, Exactly?
Nadine Debard 3 years ago
Oh I gagged at this one. I'm breastfeeding, I'm producing mammal milk.
#19
"Husband"
#20
Appropriate Suspicious Quotes
#21
Just Saw This In A McDonald's
#22
I Don't Understand What They Were Trying To Accomplish With The Quotes
#23
The Pharmacy Thinks I'm Fueling Someone's Drug Habit
#24
I Don’t Think I Want To Know What This Means
#25
I’ve Said It Before And I’ll Say It Again: Quotation Marks Are Not For Emphasis
#26
No Wonder It’s So Small
#27
Quietly Move My Cat Indoors
#28
What Kind Of Hotel Is This?
#29
This Is Just Suspicious All Around
#30
I “Love” My “Husband” Dearly
#31
I Think I’ll Pass
#32
"Jesus"
#33
Is “Dipping Powder” Code For Coke?
#34
Is It Tho? As Seen Heading North On I-95 In Boca Raton, FL Yesterday
#35
"Birds"
#37
Spotted At A Restaurant In Town
#38
So The Food Isn’t Fresh Then, Got It
#39
I Don't Think I Want To Bring My Dog Here
#40
"Our" Community
Queen Boudicca 3 years ago
Wow. That is actually frightening. Needless to say...don't pass through or visit and expect any "help"
#41
Something Tells Me I'm Not Going To Get A Prize Every Time
#42
Found This Subtle Threat In Pakistan
Pirates of Zen Pants 3 years ago (edited)
They are caused ... by Mickey Mouse? Dang. Good to know.
#43
I Require The "Sauce"
#44
"Guitar Lessons"
#45
My Cousin Got This For His 18th Birthday
#46
Found At My Local "Mall Sword Store"
#48
Now That's A Clever Slogan
#50
Sure
Local foodie 3 years ago
How is this misusing quote marks? It’s quoting something someone said, right?
#51
Reminder That Covid Is “Real”
Darren Clark 3 years ago
I love there are no other comments. No one wants to go "there" about COVID.
#53
My Son Really Did Turn Six Today, Despite His Grandparents’ Inexplicable Use Of Quotation Marks
#54
"Rest" Room?
Turd Ferguson 3 years ago
Something tells me I wouldn't really want to use that "rest" room under any circumstances.
#55
Let’s Just Say You Don’t Pay... With Money
Pirates of Zen Pants 3 years ago
Just so you don't miss the implication, the box straight up calls you a ho.
#56
Incorrect Usage Of Quotation Marks
#57
A Cocktail That's Finished With 'Love'
#58
Oh My
censorshipsucks 3 years ago
hmm maybe the manager is pedantic about whether nuts are nuts as opposed to legumes
#59
I Almost Went Into The Next Room
#60
Hmm
Sarah Stalder 3 years ago
I always do this at home. And keep my toothbrush and paste in cupboard or drawer.
#61
So Subjective
#62
Please Work Here, There Is "Good Pay"
#63
My Best Friend Works At A Physical Therapy Practice And She Sent Me This
#64
“It’s Real Food”
#69
Ah Yes... A "Shoe" Shine
#72
"Vegetarian" Spring Rolls
Bonnie Buttons 3 years ago
Weird. I have a pack of these in my freezer "right now". (Seriously, I currently have a pack of these in my freezer.) Going to recheck the ingredients list...
#73
What In The Everloving Heck Is That Made Of
#74
I Am Kayla And My Dad Packed All Of My Things So They Could Move. I Have No Idea What Is In Here
#77
Must Be One Of Those People Who Thinks That Birds Aren’t Real
#78
Who Else Would Do That?
#80
4 Out Of 5 “Dentists” Agree
zakk jakkl 3 years ago
Dentists make the most money from filling cavities so they are financially motivated to recommend the worst product for oral hygiene. Trust the fifth, honest, dentist
#81
Very Suspicious Indeed
#84
Yeah, Right
#86
I’m Not Sure If This Is A Legit Vitamin
zakk jakkl 3 years ago
Maybe it's something that starts with C, hence the quotation marks... cyanide?
#87
So-Called "Son"
#88
Valentine’s Day Card From My Parents With Some Suspicious Advice
#89
Not Sure If I'm Buying A Kebab Or Drugs
#91
I Wonder If There’s A Name For This Old-Fashioned Schoolhouse Type Of Decor
#92
Go Ahead... Take It
Pirates of Zen Pants 3 years ago
Remember, Ii "quotations marks" aren't sus enough, you can always add a "smiley face" that's half-deranged with glee.
#94
Saw This At The Local Landfill. I'm Sure My Safety Is On Their Mind
#95
"Fresh" Seafood
General Anaesthesia 3 years ago
Guests, like "fish", begin to smell after three days- Benjamin Franklin
#96
Oh... Was I Here Before?
zakk jakkl 3 years ago
Put this in a place that does research on memory to really mess with the test subjects
#97
Does The Smiley Face Make It Better?
Pirates of Zen Pants 3 years ago
Are they threatening me with the death penalty for texting grandma?
#98
Son And “Daughter”
#99
Someone Clearly Doesn't Know How Quotation Marks Work
#101
"Taxi"
#102
Would You Eat This Salsa
#103
Great Value And Suspicious Quotes. Wow
Michael Largey 3 years ago
Wait, if you thought it was fake butter and you were wrong, doesn't that make it real butter?
#108
Doubt It
Darren Clark 3 years ago
They don't want to hurt the rabbits' feelings about their dentures. Respect.
#110
This Sign In Front Of The Busiest Subway On My University’s Campus
#111
One Slice A Day, Unless There's Three
#112
"Green"
#113
How "Natural" Are We Talking Here?
#116
Come “Wash” Your “Car”
#120
When Neither Bags, Convenience Nor Coronavirus Is Real: Triple Threat
#121
What Are They Serving Exactly?
Lazy Panda (she/her/hers) 3 years ago
Anyone else love Fried Green Tomatoes? “Secret’s in the sauce”
#123
"Spaghetti"
#125
So Is It High Precision Or Not
Chucky Cheezburger 3 years ago
I guess that would depend on what kind of tolerance you're trying to hold.
#126
Three-In-One Combo At My Local Brooklyn Dollar Store
#127
So... Don't Trust The Science? (Sign Outside Marjorie Taylor Greene's Office For Extra Irony)
#129
Not Sure What It Is
Maiju Niemistö 3 years ago
What am I missing here? It obviously means daughter and son in law. Nothing wrong here I think..
#130
Thanks “Mom”
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Bonzo 3 years ago
This is just 130 examples of people (incorrectly) using quotation marks for emphasis instead of using bold, capitals, italics, etc.
Greta Kolding 3 years ago
I don't know whether I should laugh or cry. Are people really this stupid?
Bonzo 3 years ago
This is just 130 examples of people (incorrectly) using quotation marks for emphasis instead of using bold, capitals, italics, etc.
Greta Kolding 3 years ago
I don't know whether I should laugh or cry. Are people really this stupid?
You May Like 50 "People Of Walmart" Pics That Are As Funny As They Are Confusing (New Pics) 40 Weird, Unhinged And Bizarre Images That Are Not For The Easily Offended (New Pics) “Die In A Minute”: 125 Times Autocorrect Made A Mess From A Normal Text
Mantas Kačerauskas
Gabija Saveiskyte
Ilona Baliūnaitė
Related on Bored Panda
