This was something I noticed a friend doing during conversation many times; frequently indicating quotes (using her fingers), usually to interject sarcasm in a discussion. Sometimes her sarcasm was intentional, but other times, it wasn't. Also, I've come across this in conversational writing, i.e. messageboards, where a person seems to be quoting something that isn't being attributed to an outside source. I'm unsure, but when someone is using quotes excessively ( or "excessively"
), I start to think that he/she is not just doing so for emphasis; that person is being passive while arguing a point. It could be the person is using quotes to offset fully owning up to a view or opinion that is or may turn out to be unpopular. Likewise, the person may be resorting to quoting key words, because he/she is unable to back up, or is trying to discourage, a counterargument. It's a little annoying, because I see it as intentionally ambiguous communication; am I the only one who notices or has noticed this? Would quoting a word or phrase that may just be one's own word or phrase be considered a grammatical error or just poor writing? Should sources be cited whenever a word or phrase is being quoted, or is that nitpicking?
Here's an example: I don't think that statement should be put under an "archaic lens." It's "mysogynist-baiting." That may be "wrong," but it just doesn't "fit the profile."
), I start to think that he/she is not just doing so for emphasis; that person is being passive while arguing a point. It could be the person is using quotes to offset fully owning up to a view or opinion that is or may turn out to be unpopular. Likewise, the person may be resorting to quoting key words, because he/she is unable to back up, or is trying to discourage, a counterargument. It's a little annoying, because I see it as intentionally ambiguous communication; am I the only one who notices or has noticed this? Would quoting a word or phrase that may just be one's own word or phrase be considered a grammatical error or just poor writing? Should sources be cited whenever a word or phrase is being quoted, or is that nitpicking? Here's an example: I don't think that statement should be put under an "archaic lens." It's "mysogynist-baiting." That may be "wrong," but it just doesn't "fit the profile."
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