Saying words like ...

In this situation, which is correct:

He finally had the space to say words like process and professional.

vs.

He finally had the space to say words like "process" and "professional".

Context: Short Fiction

 

I would use single quotes for the actual words. "He finally had the space to say words like 'process' and 'professional'."

 

I agree with iolair that you need quotes for the words, but it depends with what you use for speech quotes. If you use single ones, then use double for the words, and vice versa.

 

Even though this sentence does not occur within speech quotes?

 

I would use italics:

He finally had the space to say words like process and professional.

 

@Anthony Martin - Yes, even though it does not occur within speech marks. Whatever you do use for speech marks, however, use the opposite for the words you have given us i.e. process and professional.

 

I'm with David on this one. Italics.

 

sorry, but singles are correctly used only for a quote within a quote... words that are quoted such as in that sentence must still get the same treatment as dialog, or any other quote, unless that whole sentence is in fact dialog...

in the UK, singles were the standard for dialog with doubles for a quote within a quote, but the rule for words like the op uses them remains the same as in the US...

that said, nowadays, US usage re singles and doubles has caught on in the UK and is being followed more and more often...