2 Answers. In general, single quotation marks are only used to indicate a quote witihin a quote (at least in AmE). It is proper to use regular quotation marks as opposed to singles for nicknames. Most sources seem to suggest as much when discussing nicknames directly.

Most stylebooks specify placing the nickname after the forename and enclosing it in quotation marks. Some stylebooks say parentheses may be used instead. Examples of the preferred form: General James “Mad Dog” Mattis, Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, Prime Minister Margaret “Iron Lady” Thatcher.

actual nicknames (“Slippery Jimmy”), and nickname-like appellations (“the Boston Strangler”, etc.) usually get quotation marks (whether inserted or explained after, e.g. with known as “the Boston Strangler”, etc.), except when it’s how everyone normally refers to the person (e.g. Magic Johnson not “Magic” Johnson);

Generally and grammatically speaking, put titles of shorter works in quotation marks but italicize titles of longer works. For example, put a “song title” in quotation marks but italicize the title of the album it appears on.

Italics are used for large works, names of vehicles, and movie and television show titles. Quotation marks are reserved for sections of works, like the titles of chapters, magazine articles, poems, and short stories. Let’s look at these rules in detail, so you’ll know how to do this in the future when writing.

Instead, employ italics as they were originally meant to be used. Quotation marks can be reserved for short works such as articles in periodicals, book chapters, short poems and songs, and other shorter items. They can also be used to indicate dialogue and other quoted material when italics would be onerous to read.

Most commonly, italics are used for emphasis or contrast — that is, to draw attention to some particular part of a text.

If you use single quotation marks, then you should use double quotation marks for a quote within a quote. If you use double quotation marks, then you should use single quotation marks for a quote within a quote.

Single quotation marks are used to mark a quote within a quote or a direct quote in a news story headline. Periods always go inside all quotation marks. A question mark is only placed inside of single quotation marks if the quote within a quote is a question.

In the United States, the rule of thumb is that commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks, and colons and semicolons (dashes as well) go outside: “There was a storm last night,” Paul said. Peter, however, didn’t believe him.