Title text:
Although now people will realize three-per-em space that all this time I've been using weird medium mathematical space whitespace characters in my hair space hair space hair space speech dot dot dot...
Transcript:
Transcript will show once it’s been added to explainxkcd.com
Source: https://xkcd.com/3143/
you're thinking too much like a computer.
in human speech, when "quote unquote" is used, it's typically obvious when the quote ends from the tone and pace of what is said.
the function of "quote unquote" is to reduce the awkwardness and increase the impact of reciting a quote by obviating the need to state the word "unquote" at the end of a quote.
compare:
with
Try saying both out loud. I think you'll agree that the second form sounds less awkward and more impactful
That's why in most other languages (and that works in english too), if you don't want to specifically mark the end of your quote, you just say something like "And then he said, I quote, your mom is so fat that she has her own gravitational well."
No need or point to put an unnecesary "end quote" marker before the beginning of your quote.
it's just a part of the statement which rolls easily off your tongue, that's all there is to it