Grammar help: What does "It's a small world" mean?

[rookiewaygook]

I am ashamed to say that I'm an English teacher   -.-'

In the book there are two sentences that I some how feel is grammatically incorrect.

1. What does "It's a small world" mean?
2. You can say "Help yourself."
3. How can I say "Long time no see" in Korean?

My instincts tell me that the quotes should not be capitalized, or there should be at least be a comma before each quote. Any proper explanation to explain why, or why not would be greatly appreciated.

[Jozigirl]

No comma is needed because the text between the quotation marks is not direct speech - ie You're not quoting what someone else is saying.  The quotation marks are simply used to highlight the focal part of the question much in the same way that italics could be used.  It is simply to distinguish which part of the question is the actual vocabulary/phrase being questioned.

[pyoon8709]

The double quotation mark ("__") is used to show direct dialogue:
-Ex.
"Hey, Tom. How's it going?"
"Not bad, but the English language is a fickle bitch."

Now, in your book, the single quotation ('__')would have been more proper.
-Ex.
Tom thinks that the English language is 'a fickle bitch'.

[rookiewaygook]

Hmm what do you guys think about the capitalization of the first letter of each phrase in question?

[Jozigirl]

Now, in your book, the single quotation ('__')would have been more proper.
-Ex.
Tom thinks that the English language is 'a fickle bitch'.

This is the grammar rule.  Nowadays, though, both the single and double quotation marks are used in the same manner.  However, they must be used consistently.  If you use "__" to show a direct quote then the single quotation marks should be used for everything else.   

Whether you use single or double quotation marks, the first word within the quotation marks is always capitalized.  OP, the grammar in your book is correct.

[rookiewaygook]

Whether you use single or double quotation marks, the first word within the quotation marks is always capitalized.  OP, the grammar in your book is correct.

I do agree that single quotations, double quotations or italics are interchangeable as long as it is consistent.

However, I do believe that the first word within quotation marks are not always capitalized in quotations.

I'm just going to trust this book. I'm sure the writers have more authority on English grammar than I do. Thanks everybody!