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Snarf Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Consistency of Quotation Marks in a List
OK, so I was talking with somebody about something like this and it was recommended that I put it on the forums proper. Take this example:
"I don't get it," he said. "If she gets a name like 'muffin,' shouldn't he get a name like 'jelly donut,' 'chocolate ice cream,' 'cinnamon bun,' or 'raised vanilla?'"
If 'muffin' is to be in quotation marks (and I know it's not mandatory), do the names in that list have to each have those quotation marks around them individually like that? I don't want it to look too messy.
Thanks.
"I don't get it," he said. "If she gets a name like 'muffin,' shouldn't he get a name like 'jelly donut,' 'chocolate ice cream,' 'cinnamon bun,' or 'raised vanilla?'"
If 'muffin' is to be in quotation marks (and I know it's not mandatory), do the names in that list have to each have those quotation marks around them individually like that? I don't want it to look too messy.
Thanks.
Top answer
Snarf "I don't get it," he said. '" Your sentences are correctly punctuated. Rover
- Snarf "I don't get it," he said.
- '" Your sentences are correctly punctuated.
- Rover
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9 Answers
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Snarf"I don't get it," he said. "If she gets a name like 'muffin,' shouldn't he get a name like 'jelly donut,' 'chocolate ice cream,' 'cinnamon bun,' or 'raised vanilla?'"Your sentences are correctly punctuated.
Rover
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Rover_KEYour sentences are correctly punctuated.Except the question mark belongs outside the single quote.
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Rover_KE Snarf"I don't get it," he said. "If she gets a name like 'muffin,' shouldn't he get a name like 'jelly donut,' 'chocolate ice cream,' 'cinnamon bun,' or 'raised vanilla?'"Your sentences are correctly punctuated.RoverThanks, Rover! So would you personally put all those quotation marks around those words, or would you leave them out?
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I would put them in if I were writing them (in my own handwriting).
If I were typing them and had the facility to italicise them, as I have here, I would do so,
Rover
If I were typing them and had the facility to italicise them, as I have here, I would do so,
Rover
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I see. Let me ask you, would the punctuation change if the list given were pluralized nicknames? For example:
"I don't get it," he said. "If she gets a name like 'muffin,' shouldn't we get names like 'jelly donuts,' 'lollipops,' 'cinnamon buns,' or "brownies?'"
Is it still accurate?
"I don't get it," he said. "If she gets a name like 'muffin,' shouldn't we get names like 'jelly donuts,' 'lollipops,' 'cinnamon buns,' or "brownies?'"
Is it still accurate?
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Don't pluralise them — you only get one name each.
(And as enoon said, the question mark goes outside the single quotation mark.)
Rover
(And as enoon said, the question mark goes outside the single quotation mark.)
Rover
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Rover_KEDon't pluralise them — you only get one name each.(And as enoon said, the question mark goes outside the single quotation mark.)RoverOh, so if they were to be pluralized, then they would not be quoted, correct?
And what about the commas, then? If the question mark goes outside of the single quotation mark, then do the commas as well?
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SnarfOh, so if they were to be pluralized, then they would not be quoted, correct?Wrong — they would still be quoted.
SnarfAnd what about the commas, then? If the question mark goes outside of the single quotation mark, then do the commas as well? I'm confused about this.You will see both versions used. Just be consistent.
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Rover_KE If the question mark goes outside of the single quotation mark, then do the commas as well? I'm confused about this.You will see both versions used. Just be consistent.RoverOh, I see what you're saying now. It just sounds awkard pluralizing them with "names like" in front. Well, what about, "Shouldn't we get called 'jelly donuts,' etc., etc.?"
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