inverted comma

Etymology
From the appearance of an inverted comma.

In lead type, an opening quote is not a separate casting. It is the result of rotating a comma 180°, inverting the comma. It is used singly or as double quotes. Similarly, the closing quotation mark is the apostrophe. Also used singly or as double quotes.

Noun

 * 1)  A type of paired quotation mark: ‘ or “ (beginning the quoted material) and ’ or ” (ending it).

Usage notes

 * In British English, the usual style is to use single inverted commas, but double inverted commas for a nested quotation. In North American English, the reverse is usual. Practice and the marks used vary by language, region, writing system and media.
 * When the term inverted commas was first used (in the 1600s) the printing convention was to precede each line of quoted or distinguished text with a single or double inverted comma. This convention lasted through the 1700s.