When to use punctuation outside of quotation marks
- 1. British English In British English, periods and commas only go inside quotation marks if the original quoted material also had those punctuation marks. ...
- 2. Commas introducing quotes When introducing a quote, we typically place a comma between the quote and the phrase leading into it. ...
- 3. Colons, semicolons, and dashes
Why do we place period inside quotation marks?
Put the period inside the quotation marks. ( This is a rule without exception. The rule for periods is still “a rule without exception,” as it was in 1906—but this time the reminder is in italics, a bit of emphasis that echoes Hart’s own insistence in 1905 on the opposite principle.
Do you put the period inside or outside a quote?
The standard rule in American punctuation is that periods go inside quotation marks, as do most commas, even if the punctuation is not part of the quote. In American writing, commas and periods almost always go inside quotation marks.
Does a period go inside or outside the apostrophe?
The period itself isn't a part of a particular sentence. It serves the very simple function of indicating that a sentence has ended. Therefore the apostrophe, being a part of the sentence, comes before the period.
Do quotation marks come before or after a period?
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? The period is unique among punctuation marks in that, yes, it always goes inside the quotation marks.
Do exclamation points go inside or outside the quotation marks?
For instance, the rules about whether to include exclamation points inside or outside the quotation marks may vary from guide to guide. Luckily, when it comes to periods and commas, the answer to whether they go inside or outside the quotation mark is much simpler. If you’re using American English, they go inside.
Should you leave a colon in a quote?
Is the colon, semicolon, parenthesis, exclamation point, or question mark a part of the direct quote? If that’s the case, you should leave it as part of the quotation, placing it inside the quotation marks.
Do you need to punctuate after a colon?
In the second example, when a question or exclamation mark comes at the end of a sentence, there’s no need for an additional ending punctuation after the quote marks.
Do you put a period in a quotation?
For people in the United States, periods and commas go inside the quotation marks.
Why is spacing less pronounced in British style?
In British style, spacing issues are less pronounced because it uses single quotation marks instead of double, and commas and periods are placed outside the quotation marks : ‘You’ve got to be carefully taught’, wrote Oscar Hammerstein II.
Where do commas go in a quotation?
The MLA Handbook notes, “By convention, commas and periods that directly follow quotations go inside the closing quotation marks” (267). Thus, in the following sentence, the comma is placed after taught:
Does a quotation mark make a typographic difference?
But Robert Bringhurst, writing in the era of digital fonts, maintains that it generally “makes no typographic difference” if quotation marks “follow commas and periods or precede them” (87). Digital typographers can close up the gap:
Do you put a comma inside or outside quotation marks?
This placement is traditional in the United States. William Strunk, Jr., and E. B. White, writing in 1959, noted that “ [t]ypographical usage dictates the comma be inside the marks, though logically it seems not to belong there” (36). In other words, in the predigital era, when fonts were fixed-width, setting a period or comma outside the quotation marks would have created an unsightly gap:
Is there a punctuation mark outside quotation marks?
Yagoda also points to the inconsistency of the method used in the United States, which places “ other punctuation marks—semicolons, colons, exclamation points, question marks, dashes” outside quotation marks. But the editors of The Chicago Manual of Style note that “ [e]xceptions” to the British style “are widespread” (309), so in terms of consistency, neither approach is better than the other.
Do you put periods in quotation marks?
But if you are preparing a paper for a class or for publication in the United States, place periods and commas inside quotation marks.
What goes inside the closing quotation marks?
AP: All punctuation goes inside the closing quotation marks. This includes commas, periods, question marks, and exclamation points.
Where do commas go in a quote?
MLA: Commas and periods directly following quotations always go inside closing quotation marks. Question marks can vary depending if the question is part of the quote, then the punctuation mark goes inside the quotation marks. If the question is not part of the direct quote, it goes outside.
Where should punctuation be in quotation marks?
In American English, the general rule for question marks and exclamation marks (or points) is this: If the quoted material ends with a question mark or an exclamation mark, the punctuation should be inside the quotation marks.
What are some examples of periods in quotation marks?
Some more examples of periods used inside of quotation marks are: Anne called the boys "mean and nasty.". In his most charming manner he said, "I never give up.". She told him to neatly write the word "Holiday.". Alan's assignment is to read Wordsworth's "Daffodils.". Advertisement.
What are the three secret of success?
The speaker listed three "secrets of success": confidence, perseverance, and passion.
What did the girl say to the cat in the doll dress?
The girl picked up the cat and said, “Don’t you want to wear this doll dress, Kitty?”
Do you punctuate inside or outside of closing quotation marks?
Knowing whether punctuation goes inside or outside of closing quotation marks is an important rule to learn and follow. With some practice, you will soon be punctuating your quotations with ease. Using punctuation properly can make your writing more credible and convey what you intend to portray to the reader more easily.
Rules For Using Quotation Marks
Quotation Marks with Commas, Periods, and Other Punctuation
- 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. 1. Example: “I’m going to be a couple minutes late to class today,” he said. In American English, commas and periods should be plac...
Capitalization
- It can sometimes be tricky to remember when to capitalize words within quotation marks. To keep it straight, follow these two simple rules: First, when quoting a full, complete sentence, the first word of that quote should always be capitalized. 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 …
Other Uses For Quotation Marks
- Quotation marks aren’t only used to capture spoken words. You might also run into, or want to use, these other uses of quotation marks: 1. Titles: While titles of longer works (e.g., full-length books, music albums, TV shows, and films) and publications (e.g., newspapers, magazines, and journals) are often written in italics, shorter pieces found within these longer works—like songs, …