Punctuation of Quotations
- 1. The final period or comma goes inside the quotation marks, even if it is not a part of the quoted material, unless the quotation is followed by a citation. ...
- 2. A colon or semicolon is placed outside the quotation marks (regardless of whether or not it exists in the quoted material). ...
Do you put quotation marks after period?
With only one exception, the period always comes inside closing quotation marks. This rule applies even if only one quoted word ends the sentence. Thus: He said, "We need to tell the boss right away."
Does the period come before quotations?
In the US, the period comes before the closing quotation mark. In the UK, the full stop is placed before the closing quotation mark if it is part of the quoted matter, but after the closing quotation mark if it is not. The period and the full stop are the same punctuation mark, differently named in the US and the UK.
Does the period always go inside quotes?
Wondering whether to put a period inside or outside quotes? The correct choice is almost always inside. In American usage, commas and periods at the end of quotes always go inside the quotation marks. In British usage, they can go either inside or outside.
Do the quotation marks come before or after the period?
When a comma or period is needed after a quotation, publishers in the United States typically put the punctuation mark before the closing quotation mark. The reason for this convention is to improve the appearance of the text. The convention goes back at least to the nineteenth century.
What is a quote mark?
Quotation marks are most often used to mark something that is spoken or, in other words, to designate a direct quote. That is, they display something that’s been said, word for word.
What is a scare quote?
Scare Quotes: Also known as air quotes, sneer quotes, or shudder quotes, scare quotes are put around a word or phrase to note atypical usage or disapproval. Oftentimes, scare quotes are used with a negative or sarcastic tone that distances the person using the scare quotes from the person (real or hypothetical) that they’re quoting.
What is a virtual writing assistant?
As you’re getting up to speed on these and other grammar basics, a virtual writing assistant like Microsoft Editorcan help you catch all your mistakes, and help ensure that your writing is clean, clear, and communicates your very best ideas.
When to use a comma in a quote?
As in the example above, a comma is used before quotation marks to introduce a direct quote. If the description of the quote’s speaker is placed after the quotation, a comma is always placed within the quotation marks.
Is a quotation a punctuation?
As you’ve probably noticed, quotation marks are an extremely common set of punctuation marks. Continue your journey to grammatical excellence, and follow along with this guide to brush up on the rules of using quotation marks.
Do you put a comma in a quotation?
In American English, commas and periods should be placed within the quotation marks as long as they do not change the meaning of the quotation. In instances where punctuation would change the meaning of the quotation—that is, when the punctuation, such as a question mark or exclamation point, does not belong to the quotation—it should be placed outside of the quotation marks.
Do you capitalize a quote in a sentence?
Alternatively, when a quote only references a fragment of a quote, a phrase, or part of a sentence, the first word of the quote does not need to be capitalized. This includes cases when a quote is interrupted by a description.
Short Answer
The period always goes inside the quotation marks. (This, however, is not true for other punctuation marks.)
Long Answer
The main problem that people have with using quotes is also a fundamental one: does the period at the end of the quote go inside or outside of the quotation marks?
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Do you put a period after "said"?
Take the period out after the quotation marks, and you're good to go. (Leave the one before the final quotation mark.) Also, you need a comma after "said" and no space after the first quotation mark.
Who said "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow"?
Albert Einstein once said, “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.”
Rules For Using Quotation Marks
- Are you confused about whether to put a period inside or outside quotations? The most prevalent and preferable option is to always use a period inside the quotes. The preference is to do with the American and British styles of writing. Writing styles in the United States usually include commas and periods before the quotation mark. However, colons,...
Quotation Marks with Commas, Periods, and Other Punctuation
Capitalization
Other Uses For Quotation Marks