Quotation marks are used in writing to indicate that a specific section of text is being quoted or attributed to someone. They are typically formed by two vertical lines or marks (") and are used for various purposes in written language. There are two main types of quotation marks: double quotation marks (" ") and single quotation marks (' ').

Here are some common uses of quotation marks:

1. Quoting Direct Speech or Dialogue: Quotation marks are used to enclose the exact words spoken by a person. For example:

- Candy said, "Hello!"

- Maggie asked, "What time is the movie?"

2. Quoting Text: When quoting text from a book, article, or other written source, quotation marks are used to indicate the quoted material. For example:

- My favorite line of Candy Sky Tells A Lie is "My BFF Maggie swears on her life that our English teacher is a witch."

3. Titles of Short Works: Quotation marks are used to enclose the titles of shorter works, such as articles, short stories, poems, and songs. For example:

- "The Raven" is a famous poem by Edgar Allan Poe.

- I read an interesting short story called "Seals Aren't Pets."

4. Emphasizing Words or Phrases: Quotation marks can be used to emphasize or draw attention to specific words or phrases within a sentence. For example:

- The so-called "fish expert" couldn't provide a clear answer to any of Maggie's questions.

- The word "love" can have many different meanings.

5. Scare Quotes: Quotation marks are sometimes used as "scare quotes" to express doubt or irony about a term or phrase. For example:

- The "famous" cousin that Candy claimed to have did not actually exsist.

6. Nested Quotations: When a quotation appears within another quotation, single quotation marks are often used to enclose the inner quotation. For example:

- Dad said, "She told me, 'I'll be there by 6 o'clock.'"

7. Technical or Scientific Terms: Quotation marks can be used to denote technical or scientific terms to distinguish them from everyday language. For example:

- The term "photosynthesis" refers to the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy.

8. Alternative Spellings or Nicknames: Quotation marks can be used to show alternative spellings, nicknames, or informal names. For example:

- The state of Washington is often called the "Evergreen State."

It's important to use quotation marks correctly to avoid confusion and ensure that the reader understands the intended meaning. The specific rules and conventions for using quotation marks may vary slightly between different style guides and languages, so it's a good idea to follow the guidelines of the style you are using.