Non-quoting quotes: "x" or 'x'?

Just adding to Derek-the-Darth's good advice.

Although it's ever so trendy for writers in the US to sprinkle in single quotes for all sorts of imagined purposes, for US publications, the only use for single quotation marks are quotes within quotes:

Larry said, "I've never heard 'The Star-Spangled Banner' sung so poorly."

A good thing which may come from the trend toward British punctuation is one day our language may again be a common bond.

Be consistent. If you use double quotes for everything (in the US), then it should be double quotes. Same with single quotes (usually in the UK, but writers in the UK use double quotes, too).

boron said:

So, in the U.S., double quotes even if it doesn't have anything with direct speech?

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Yes. It's still a quote.

Double quotation marks are correct US usage for everything except quotations-within-quotations, as Chase says. If a particular publication's style sheet differs, they will spell that out because it is a variation from the norm.

You guys just won me 10 quid!

I prefer neither. If what you're saying is understandable without quotation marks, leave them off.

Jamesaritchie said:

I prefer neither. If what you're saying is understandable without quotation marks, leave them off.

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Yes. Be very careful.... US advertisers love to put things in quotes, like:

Our sandwiches are "delicious."
Friday only - "Sale"
Frozen Yogurt! "All Natural"

This implies (1) idiocy and/or (2) sarcastic air quotes.

Just when I think I've finally gotten something down, I come here. Thanks. I guess.