Are guillemets used at all in English?
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Guillemets are, by Oxford Dictionaries definition:
Each of a pair of punctuation marks (« ») used as quotation marks in French and other European languages.
This is backed up by Wiktionary:
Guillemets (/ˈɡɪləmɛt/, or /ɡiːəˈmeɪ/; French: [ɡijmɛ]), angle quotes,
angle brackets, or carets, are a pair of punctuation marks in the form
of sideways double chevrons (« and »), used as quotation marks
However, I would like to know if there is a use for guillemets in the English language?
My research is below:
Source 1:
The furthest Google has taken me is Writeawriting. It states:
The guillemet is used to mark the starting and the ending point of an entire conversation (this includes phrases like ‘he said’, ‘she replied’, ‘we told’ etc). This use is more specific to French language and many other Non-English languages.
Though, as the article's title is "What is guillemet and how to use it in English language" (all [sic]), it doesn't specify whether it is sometimes used in the English language, rarely is, or if it's used at all. The rest of the article discusses programming and the like, so not useful.
Source 2: EL&U answer to:
Is it acceptable to nest parentheses?
User Orbling attests:
...I do it, but then I spend a lot of time as a mathematician.
If it gets confusing I think using alternative bracket glyphs assists ([{<« »>}]).
[Though using the guillemets (« ») as brackets can get you in to [sic]
trouble, as a lot of languages use them as speech marks.(Wikipedia.) ]
This indicates that using guillemets in the layering scheme for brackets is a thing, but is it correct?
Source 3: EL&U question Why Do Guillemets Sometimes Appear?
User Benjamin McAvoy-Bickford asks:
I have noticed, recently, that guillemets are being used in all sorts of odd ways. I saw one example where they seemed to be inserted around a few shorter words in a slogan for no reason at all. Is there such a thing as a proper use of guillemets in English? Similarly, are guillemets sneaking in because people don't remove them, as partially addressed in this question? I live in America, so I was particularly thinking about American English, though British English-based answers could help.
Then user Hot Licks comments:
The use of the
<<and>>brackets is unusual in normal English and has no established meaning.
In regards to this, guillemets may be rare in English, but, as we've established previously, they aren't unseen; they have a meaning to at least some people.
And this brings us back to square one!
All answers appreciated.
NB: BrE, AmE, AuE, CaE etc. based answers are all accepted.
punctuation
asked 5 hours ago
LordologyLordology
1,528217
|
show 4 more comments
Guillemets are, by Oxford Dictionaries definition:
Each of a pair of punctuation marks (« ») used as quotation marks in French and other European languages.
This is backed up by Wiktionary:
Guillemets (/ˈɡɪləmɛt/, or /ɡiːəˈmeɪ/; French: [ɡijmɛ]), angle quotes,
angle brackets, or carets, are a pair of punctuation marks in the form
of sideways double chevrons (« and »), used as quotation marks
However, I would like to know if there is a use for guillemets in the English language?
My research is below:
Source 1:
The furthest Google has taken me is Writeawriting. It states:
The guillemet is used to mark the starting and the ending point of an entire conversation (this includes phrases like ‘he said’, ‘she replied’, ‘we told’ etc). This use is more specific to French language and many other Non-English languages.
Though, as the article's title is "What is guillemet and how to use it in English language" (all [sic]), it doesn't specify whether it is sometimes used in the English language, rarely is, or if it's used at all. The rest of the article discusses programming and the like, so not useful.
Source 2: EL&U answer to:
Is it acceptable to nest parentheses?
User Orbling attests:
...I do it, but then I spend a lot of time as a mathematician.
If it gets confusing I think using alternative bracket glyphs assists ([{<« »>}]).
[Though using the guillemets (« ») as brackets can get you in to [sic]
trouble, as a lot of languages use them as speech marks.(Wikipedia.) ]
This indicates that using guillemets in the layering scheme for brackets is a thing, but is it correct?
Source 3: EL&U question Why Do Guillemets Sometimes Appear?
User Benjamin McAvoy-Bickford asks:
I have noticed, recently, that guillemets are being used in all sorts of odd ways. I saw one example where they seemed to be inserted around a few shorter words in a slogan for no reason at all. Is there such a thing as a proper use of guillemets in English? Similarly, are guillemets sneaking in because people don't remove them, as partially addressed in this question? I live in America, so I was particularly thinking about American English, though British English-based answers could help.
Then user Hot Licks comments:
The use of the
<<and>>brackets is unusual in normal English and has no established meaning.
In regards to this, guillemets may be rare in English, but, as we've established previously, they aren't unseen; they have a meaning to at least some people.
And this brings us back to square one!
All answers appreciated.
NB: BrE, AmE, AuE, CaE etc. based answers are all accepted.
punctuation
asked 5 hours ago
LordologyLordology
1,528217
1
It seems to me that the research you've noted does in fact answer your question - there is no standardised use for guillemets in English. That said, I consistently use them (along with italic text) to indicate telepathic 'speech' in my SF writing. «Here's thinking at you, kid!»
– Jeff Zeitlin
4 hours ago
@JeffZeitlin If you use them to indicate telepathic speech, then my question isn't answered. But thanks.
– Lordology
4 hours ago
You can use any marks however you want, but if you're writing in any formal capacity, one that requires adherence to standards, I'd recommend leaving guillemets out of the mix.
– Robusto
4 hours ago
I said that I consistently use them thus. It's not any kind of standard, and some editors that I've submitted such stories to have changed them to match 'house style'.
– Jeff Zeitlin
4 hours ago
@JeffZeitlin This is useful information, but I don't consider my question answered yet, as there is probably more out there.
– Lordology
4 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
Guillemets are, by Oxford Dictionaries definition:
Each of a pair of punctuation marks (« ») used as quotation marks in French and other European languages.
This is backed up by Wiktionary:
Guillemets (/ˈɡɪləmɛt/, or /ɡiːəˈmeɪ/; French: [ɡijmɛ]), angle quotes,
angle brackets, or carets, are a pair of punctuation marks in the form
of sideways double chevrons (« and »), used as quotation marks
However, I would like to know if there is a use for guillemets in the English language?
My research is below:
Source 1:
The furthest Google has taken me is Writeawriting. It states:
The guillemet is used to mark the starting and the ending point of an entire conversation (this includes phrases like ‘he said’, ‘she replied’, ‘we told’ etc). This use is more specific to French language and many other Non-English languages.
Though, as the article's title is "What is guillemet and how to use it in English language" (all [sic]), it doesn't specify whether it is sometimes used in the English language, rarely is, or if it's used at all. The rest of the article discusses programming and the like, so not useful.
Source 2: EL&U answer to:
Is it acceptable to nest parentheses?
User Orbling attests:
...I do it, but then I spend a lot of time as a mathematician.
If it gets confusing I think using alternative bracket glyphs assists ([{<« »>}]).
[Though using the guillemets (« ») as brackets can get you in to [sic]
trouble, as a lot of languages use them as speech marks.(Wikipedia.) ]
This indicates that using guillemets in the layering scheme for brackets is a thing, but is it correct?
Source 3: EL&U question Why Do Guillemets Sometimes Appear?
User Benjamin McAvoy-Bickford asks:
I have noticed, recently, that guillemets are being used in all sorts of odd ways. I saw one example where they seemed to be inserted around a few shorter words in a slogan for no reason at all. Is there such a thing as a proper use of guillemets in English? Similarly, are guillemets sneaking in because people don't remove them, as partially addressed in this question? I live in America, so I was particularly thinking about American English, though British English-based answers could help.
Then user Hot Licks comments:
The use of the
<<and>>brackets is unusual in normal English and has no established meaning.
In regards to this, guillemets may be rare in English, but, as we've established previously, they aren't unseen; they have a meaning to at least some people.
And this brings us back to square one!
All answers appreciated.
NB: BrE, AmE, AuE, CaE etc. based answers are all accepted.
punctuation
asked 5 hours ago
LordologyLordology
1,528217
Guillemets are, by Oxford Dictionaries definition:
Each of a pair of punctuation marks (« ») used as quotation marks in French and other European languages.
This is backed up by Wiktionary:
Guillemets (/ˈɡɪləmɛt/, or /ɡiːəˈmeɪ/; French: [ɡijmɛ]), angle quotes,
angle brackets, or carets, are a pair of punctuation marks in the form
of sideways double chevrons (« and »), used as quotation marks
However, I would like to know if there is a use for guillemets in the English language?
My research is below:
Source 1:
The furthest Google has taken me is Writeawriting. It states:
The guillemet is used to mark the starting and the ending point of an entire conversation (this includes phrases like ‘he said’, ‘she replied’, ‘we told’ etc). This use is more specific to French language and many other Non-English languages.
Though, as the article's title is "What is guillemet and how to use it in English language" (all [sic]), it doesn't specify whether it is sometimes used in the English language, rarely is, or if it's used at all. The rest of the article discusses programming and the like, so not useful.
Source 2: EL&U answer to:
Is it acceptable to nest parentheses?
User Orbling attests:
...I do it, but then I spend a lot of time as a mathematician.
If it gets confusing I think using alternative bracket glyphs assists ([{<« »>}]).
[Though using the guillemets (« ») as brackets can get you in to [sic]
trouble, as a lot of languages use them as speech marks.(Wikipedia.) ]
This indicates that using guillemets in the layering scheme for brackets is a thing, but is it correct?
Source 3: EL&U question Why Do Guillemets Sometimes Appear?
User Benjamin McAvoy-Bickford asks:
I have noticed, recently, that guillemets are being used in all sorts of odd ways. I saw one example where they seemed to be inserted around a few shorter words in a slogan for no reason at all. Is there such a thing as a proper use of guillemets in English? Similarly, are guillemets sneaking in because people don't remove them, as partially addressed in this question? I live in America, so I was particularly thinking about American English, though British English-based answers could help.
Then user Hot Licks comments:
The use of the
<<and>>brackets is unusual in normal English and has no established meaning.
In regards to this, guillemets may be rare in English, but, as we've established previously, they aren't unseen; they have a meaning to at least some people.
And this brings us back to square one!
All answers appreciated.
NB: BrE, AmE, AuE, CaE etc. based answers are all accepted.
punctuation
punctuation
asked 5 hours ago
LordologyLordology
1,528217
asked 5 hours ago
LordologyLordology
1,528217
asked 5 hours ago
LordologyLordology
1,528217
asked 5 hours ago
LordologyLordology
1,528217
asked 5 hours ago
LordologyLordology
1,528217
1,528217
1
It seems to me that the research you've noted does in fact answer your question - there is no standardised use for guillemets in English. That said, I consistently use them (along with italic text) to indicate telepathic 'speech' in my SF writing. «Here's thinking at you, kid!»
– Jeff Zeitlin
4 hours ago
@JeffZeitlin If you use them to indicate telepathic speech, then my question isn't answered. But thanks.
– Lordology
4 hours ago
You can use any marks however you want, but if you're writing in any formal capacity, one that requires adherence to standards, I'd recommend leaving guillemets out of the mix.
– Robusto
4 hours ago
I said that I consistently use them thus. It's not any kind of standard, and some editors that I've submitted such stories to have changed them to match 'house style'.
– Jeff Zeitlin
4 hours ago
@JeffZeitlin This is useful information, but I don't consider my question answered yet, as there is probably more out there.
– Lordology
4 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
1
It seems to me that the research you've noted does in fact answer your question - there is no standardised use for guillemets in English. That said, I consistently use them (along with italic text) to indicate telepathic 'speech' in my SF writing. «Here's thinking at you, kid!»
– Jeff Zeitlin
4 hours ago
@JeffZeitlin If you use them to indicate telepathic speech, then my question isn't answered. But thanks.
– Lordology
4 hours ago
You can use any marks however you want, but if you're writing in any formal capacity, one that requires adherence to standards, I'd recommend leaving guillemets out of the mix.
– Robusto
4 hours ago
I said that I consistently use them thus. It's not any kind of standard, and some editors that I've submitted such stories to have changed them to match 'house style'.
– Jeff Zeitlin
4 hours ago
@JeffZeitlin This is useful information, but I don't consider my question answered yet, as there is probably more out there.
– Lordology
4 hours ago
1
1
It seems to me that the research you've noted does in fact answer your question - there is no standardised use for guillemets in English. That said, I consistently use them (along with italic text) to indicate telepathic 'speech' in my SF writing. «Here's thinking at you, kid!»
– Jeff Zeitlin
4 hours ago
It seems to me that the research you've noted does in fact answer your question - there is no standardised use for guillemets in English. That said, I consistently use them (along with italic text) to indicate telepathic 'speech' in my SF writing. «Here's thinking at you, kid!»
– Jeff Zeitlin
4 hours ago
@JeffZeitlin If you use them to indicate telepathic speech, then my question isn't answered. But thanks.
– Lordology
4 hours ago
@JeffZeitlin If you use them to indicate telepathic speech, then my question isn't answered. But thanks.
– Lordology
4 hours ago
You can use any marks however you want, but if you're writing in any formal capacity, one that requires adherence to standards, I'd recommend leaving guillemets out of the mix.
– Robusto
4 hours ago
You can use any marks however you want, but if you're writing in any formal capacity, one that requires adherence to standards, I'd recommend leaving guillemets out of the mix.
– Robusto
4 hours ago
I said that I consistently use them thus. It's not any kind of standard, and some editors that I've submitted such stories to have changed them to match 'house style'.
– Jeff Zeitlin
4 hours ago
I said that I consistently use them thus. It's not any kind of standard, and some editors that I've submitted such stories to have changed them to match 'house style'.
– Jeff Zeitlin
4 hours ago
@JeffZeitlin This is useful information, but I don't consider my question answered yet, as there is probably more out there.
– Lordology
4 hours ago
@JeffZeitlin This is useful information, but I don't consider my question answered yet, as there is probably more out there.
– Lordology
4 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
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1
It seems to me that the research you've noted does in fact answer your question - there is no standardised use for guillemets in English. That said, I consistently use them (along with italic text) to indicate telepathic 'speech' in my SF writing. «Here's thinking at you, kid!»
– Jeff Zeitlin
4 hours ago
@JeffZeitlin If you use them to indicate telepathic speech, then my question isn't answered. But thanks.
– Lordology
4 hours ago
You can use any marks however you want, but if you're writing in any formal capacity, one that requires adherence to standards, I'd recommend leaving guillemets out of the mix.
– Robusto
4 hours ago
I said that I consistently use them thus. It's not any kind of standard, and some editors that I've submitted such stories to have changed them to match 'house style'.
– Jeff Zeitlin
4 hours ago
@JeffZeitlin This is useful information, but I don't consider my question answered yet, as there is probably more out there.
– Lordology
4 hours ago