Is there a rule or standard in grammar that determines when to place words within quotation marks? (Not dialog, but words used tongue-in-cheek.)
by 
Jodie44
ANSWERS: 2
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I believe that this is an important grammatical tool and as such it must be used sparingly. In order to emphasize a distinct point, it becomes warranted and will naturally avail of its self when it should be used within the flow of dialogue. This emphasis is stronger and neater looking than just capitalizing the words that you want to stand out. For Tongue & Cheek, I believe it works within the same confines that I previously mentioned but it would take on a greater significance because the quoted portion becomes the crux of what you really want to say. I'm sorry if this doesn't help at all.
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Quotation mark usage in context of emphasis includes terminology, slang, and for purposes of sarcasm. Consider these examples: Literary scholars often discuss "tragedy" with reference to Aristotle. People use the word "homey" as a nickname for their friends. The first example demonstrates proper usage with terminology, while the second example shows usage for slang. Having quotation marks around the word tragedy in the first example reminds readers the term is not being used in its conventional definition, but rather from a literary standpoint. Without quotation marks around tragedy, readers may believe literary scholars discuss the terminology in the same context as everyday people, referring to bad instances. Similarly, in the second example, "homey" is not a standard English word so quotation marks are needed for distinction. http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/grammar/quotes/basic.htm
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