Are "quotation marks" necessary?

[Gibsons]

I've read some Cormac McCarthy and he eschews the use of quotation marks. In my opinion, his prose loses nothing from this convention.

One caveat: perhaps he's simply so skilled that there's never any question about who's speaking, and where their remarks begin and end. In contrast, those those with lesser ability have greater need of punctuation.

"What" "do" "you" "think?"

 

[Atomic Playboy]

"Yes."

 

[MongGrel]

I'd say they are necessary in proper writing most of the time.

They are literary tools.

 

[tcsenter]

You did it wrong. Should be, are quotation marks "necessary"?

 

[brianmanahan]

 

[Gibsons]

You did it wrong. Should be, are quotation marks "necessary"?

:hmm:

Yes, you are correct.

I just wanted to put "quotation marks" in quotation marks.

 

[lord_emperor]

:hmm:

Yes, you are correct.

I just wanted to put "quotation marks" in quotation marks.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

I could probably find a way to drive a nail thru a plank, but since hammers exist I'll use a hammer. If you wanna try to build a table without a hammer, be my guest.

 

[pete6032]

Define "necessary."

 

[angminas]

I heard a song with no guitar once, and it was good, so nobody should ever play guitar again.

 

[Gibsons]

I heard a song with no guitar once, and it was good,

norwegian wood