I'm not American, Bob. I'm British, so I don't have to call "them" what you call "them", and you don't have to call "them" what I call "them". I'm certainly not going to stop calling "them" inverted commas simply because of the font being used! (Note: That was a declarative sentence AND an exclamation).

Since you appear to be a little confused about this issue, Bob, allow me to guide you somewhat if I may. Please let's get at least one thing straight:
Inverted commas is the British name for quotation marks.

(source: http://www.bartleby.com/68/12/3412.html)
For more guidance, Bob, you could do worse than to take a look at the following guidelines from the University of Surrey in Britain (Guildford, actually - nice cathedral!):
Inverted Commas are used:
a) When quoting someone’s words or from a book:
e.g. A famous speech from “Hamlet” begins “To be or not to be”. Take care, when quoting from a book/play/poem, that your own sentence leads naturally into the quotation.
b) For titles of books, plays, T.V. programmes, films, newspapers, house-names, names of ships, etc.
e.g. Two of the most famous Elizabethan theatres were “The Globe” and “The Fortune”.
c) When using foreign words, jargon, specialist words or slang; or to show that a word is used sarcastically. Note: use single inverted commas within direct speech:
e.g. “Did you enjoy ‘Pygmalion’?” he asked.
but if you use single inverted commas for speech then use double inverted commas within.
(source: http://www.surrey.ac.uk/Skills/pack/english/invcom.html)

You may have noticed, Bob, that I quite frequently use "them" in the sense of c) above. Since you're an 'authority' on this subject, it's a fair bet that you have indeed noticed.

Christopher ('CJ')

...
} I'm not American, Bob. I'm British, so I don't have to call } "them" what you call "them",
You're in America, right? Nobody blames you for being British, but it's irrelevant.
} and you don't have to call "them" } what I call "them".
Of course not. He's in America.
} I'm certainly not going to stop calling } "them" inverted commas simply because of the font being used! } (Note: That was a declarative sentence AND an exclamation).

No, it wasn't. It was a declarative sentence with an incorrect exclamation point at the end. It was certainly not an exclamation.

} Since you appear to be a little confused about this issue,

He didn't seem confused about the issue at all. (You don't either, more's the pity.)
} Bob, allow me to guide you somewhat if I may. Please let's get } at least one thing straight:
}
} Inverted commas is the British name for quotation marks.

Used to be. Get a newer book.
} (source: http://www.bartleby.com/68/12/3412.html) }
} For more guidance, Bob, you could do worse than to take a look at } the following guidelines from the University of Surrey in Britain } (Guildford, actually - nice cathedral!):
}
} Inverted Commas are used:
Quotation marks are used:
} a) When quoting someone’s words or from a book: } e.g. A famous speech from “Hamlet” begins “To be or not to be”.

Those are little rectangles here. Better:
A famous speech from Hamlet begins "To be or not to be".

} Take care, when quoting from a book/play/poem, that your own } sentence leads naturally into the quotation.

Better:
When quoting from a book or play or poem, take care that your own sentence leads naturally into the quotation.
} b) For titles of books, plays, T.V. programmes, films, } newspapers, house-names, names of ships, etc. } e.g. Two of the most famous Elizabethan theatres were } “The Globe” and “The Fortune”.
For titles of books, plays, television programs, films, and newspapers use italics or underlining. For titles of stories, skits, and other lesser works use quotation marks. Capitalize proper nouns.

} c) When using foreign words, jargon, specialist words or slang;

For foreign words (and jargon, specialist words, and slang used as if they are foreign words) use italics or underlining.
} or to show that a word is used sarcastically.

Don't use words sarcastically; you won't be able to pull it off.

} Note: use single } inverted commas within direct speech:
} e.g. “Did you enjoy ‘Pygmalion’?” he asked. } but if you use single inverted commas for speech then use } double inverted commas within.
Those two within's need some work.
} (source: http://www.surrey.ac.uk/Skills/pack/english/invcom.html) }
} You may have noticed, Bob, that I quite frequently use "them" } in the sense of c) above. Since you're an 'authority' on this } subject, it's a fair bet that you have indeed noticed.

Of course he's noticed. He's probably shaking his head at the confidence you seem to have in what you say. People cut him some slack when he speaks confidently about the law, because he's got a degree and some thirty-seven years of experience. And he's usually right.

R. J. Valentine

I'm sorry, Chris, but that is no way to address a respected regular, not to mention the fact he knows a good bit about English himself. And, much as you'll hate hearing it, he's many years your senior. I think older people, unless they're real cave dwellers, should be given at least a degree of respect.

Charles Riggs

Also, more 'regularly', 'Parlari' and one or two other spellings; note that it's non-rhotic. A lingua franca, I think London-centred, once common among street traders and 'carnies'; it spread to the theatre, especially such performers as chorus boys, and so is now associated with the camp crowd. I don't really know how prevalent it actually is; but I believe carnies ('showmen') use elements of it mixed with Romany words in their private English, and a few inveterate Round the Horne fans like occasionally to spice their discourse with the few words they (='we') learned from the programme.
It seems to have more words of Italian origin than any other, and the structure is English. I think it overlapped with 'criminal cant' quite a lot. One of Partridge's books, Here, There, and Everywhere , has an essay on it which I'd like to read; but I see it came out in 1949, when Partridge was 55, so it may be missing our generation's viewpoint: his Dictionary of Historical Slang , for example, doesn't seem to make the camp connection.
Mike.

I have no desire to "become American", Robin, as you may have gathered. I much prefer Britain and the British way of doing things. I live in America (Chicago area) because my parents live here. I have every intention of going back to England as soon as I am able to. I'm a Brit through and through, I'm afraid.

Christopher ('CJ')