Period FAQs

does quotations go before or after a period

by Retta Funk Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago
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Put commas and periods within quotation marks, except when a parenthetical reference follows. He said, "I may forget your name, but I never forget a face."

Full Answer

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 quotation come before period?

There are three basic rules you need to remember when using quotation marks with other forms of punctuation. There are absolutely no exceptions to these three rules in American English. • Commas or periods always precede closing quotation marks of quoted material.

Does period go inside or outside quotation?

The period is unique among punctuation marks in that, yes, it always goes inside the quotation marks. For instance, He said, “I’m going to the mall.” However, this is not the case for all end punctuation marks. For other punctuation marks, where the closing punctuation goes depends on which idea it refers to (the sentence or the quote).

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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.

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Why do you put a comma after a quote?

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 comma after a double quotation?

A comma or period that follows a closing double quotation mark hangs off by itself and creates a gap in the line of text (since the space over the comma or period combines with the following word space). British publishers tend to put the comma or period after the quotation mark. But the British usually use the narrower, ...

What are the conventions of scholarly quotation?

The conventions of scholarly quotation—removing the original context, adapting the extract to fit the new context, and others— are well understood. They don’t unduly compromise the source if they’re followed carefully.

Do British use commas after quotation marks?

But the British usually use the narrower, single quotation mark as the primary quotation mark. There is less of an aesthetic penalty to placing a comma or period after a single quotation mark, since the mark of punctuation isn’t stranded as far from the previous word. It’s true that the convention followed in the United States treats ...

Why do I use quotation marks in writing?

Most of the quotation marks I use are to set apart or call out a specific word or phrase in technical communication. In that context, I want to avoid the impression that the final punctuation is part of the thing that I am quoting (unless it is!), so in most cases I would put the punctua

Where do commas go in a quote?

If you're writing in American style or writing fiction, the comma and period (to the extent possible) go INSIDE the quotation marks.

When do you put punctuation outside the closing quotation?

Exceptions to this rule occur when the punctuation needs to be placed outside the closing quotation for clarity, most often when the surrounding sentence is a question and the quotation is not. Also, colons, semicolons and em or en dashes that are part of the sentence-structure complex enclosing the quotation go outside the closing quotation mark.

What did Martin Luther King say in his speech?

In his “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. Martin Luther King proclaimed to the American people the injustice suffered by the African-American man in America. In his August 28, 1963 speech, “I Have a Dream,” Dr. Martin Luther King proclaimed to the American people the injustice suffered by the African-Ameri. Continue Reading.

Why is it important to have good English writing skills?

First off, the fact that you want to improve is terrific! English writing skills are vitally important if you’re thinking of going on to further education in an English-speaking c(Continue reading)

Do you put punctuation in quotation marks?

If you get published by a U.S. company, the editor will ensure your punctuation is inside the quotation mark unless it is known that you are from a country using British style punctuation and spelling, and you have used it consistently.

Do you put periods and commas in a quote?

British English, as you would expect, is a little more complicated. You have to place the periods and commas depending on context . A simple explanation would be that if the punctuation is part of the quoted sentence, it stays inside, otherwise it comes out. He said, "The snappers are biting.".

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.

How to end a quote in two parts?

If you’re splitting a quote into two separate parts, you’ll end the first section with a comma inside of the quotes and begin the second section with another comma inside the quotes: “The problem is,” Rachel said, “no one wants to listen to anyone else’s opinion.”.

What does "bonjour" mean in French?

In French, bonjour means “hello.”. An obnoxious, entitled, and often racist middle-aged white woman is known as a “Karen.”. If you quote a complete sentence, begin the quote with a capital letter. If you’re only quoting a piece of a sentence, begin with a lowercase letter. If either instance comes at the end of the sentence, ...

When to use quotation marks in a sentence?

Finally, you can use quotation marks around a word or phrase when you need to show that you’re discussing the use of that word or phrase, rather than using it as part of the sentence.

Do Brits use single quotation marks?

Brits also use single quotation marks for standard quotes and double quotation marks for quotes within a quote. Once again, Americans do the opposite, defaulting to double quotation marks for standard quotes, and only using single quotations when quoting something within another quote.

Do you put periods inside quotation marks?

While Americans place periods and commas inside of quotation marks, those in the UK do the opposite. In British English, all punctuation marks go outside of the quotation marks unless the punctuation is a part of the material being quoted.

Can you use punctuation with quotation marks?

Here’s a quick guide to using punctuation with quotation marks like a pro, and you can quote us on that.

Do quotation marks go inside or outside of quotation marks?

If you’ve ever been writing a quote and found yourself wondering if that exclamation point should go inside the quotation marks or outside of them, you definitely aren’t alone . Here’s a quick guide to using punctuation with quotation marks like ...

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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...
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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 …
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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, …
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