Punctuation Inside Or Outside Quotes At End Of Sentence

Sentence ending punctuation is a whole different story.

Punctuation inside or outside quotes at end of sentence. 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. We did a dance called the electric slide when it comes to colons and semicolons it s the opposite. Colons and semicolons are placed outside quotations while question marks and exclamation marks follow the logic of the sentence. I replied i m not sure it also applies for quoted words or phrases.

For example if the sentence is a question but the words in the quote are not the question mark would go outside the quotation marks. My password is foo bar. Put them inside of the quotation marks. The style manual states p.

For other punctuation marks where the closing punctuation goes depends on which idea it refers to the sentence or the quote. Generally speaking the end punctuation goes inside the quotation marks. My favorite poem is mr. In the us periods and commas are placed inside quotation marks.

On the other hand if the punctuation mark is part of the carrier sentence it follows the closing punctuation mark. They always go on the outside. This applies for quoted sentences. In american usage commas and periods at the end of quotes always go inside the quotation marks.

Peter however didn t believe him. If the quoted material would have contained the punctuation mark in the absence of any interruption the punctuation mark stays inside the closing quotation mark. If on the other hand the sentence is not a question but the words in the quote are then the question mark would go inside the. The american english rule for periods and commas is pretty simple.

I m not sure that s exactly what happened. In the uk the tendency is to place them outside. He said this is a sentence. Don t be silly said the clown.

In british usage they can go either inside or outside. Check with your favorite style guide. My favorite poem is mr. In the united states the rule of thumb is that commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks and colons and semicolons dashes as well go outside.

For example has he already said i m going to the mall. There was a storm last night paul said. Don t be silly said the clown. It makes a bit more sense if you consider quotes that contain several sentences.