Placing of a period when using quotation marks

Question

According to British grammar rules, which use of the period is correct in the sentence below?

That is "not how it's done".

OR

That is "not how it's done."

My instinct tells me that, as the quote is part of a sentence without a comma before the quote, the period is placed outside of the quotation marks according to British grammar rules.

Here are some links that don't necessarily support my argument but make me lean that way. I hope that you can help clarify with an explanation?

http://m.grammarbook.com/punctuation-rules/quotation-marks.aspx

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/quotation.htm

http://www.thepunctuationguide.com/british-versus-american-style.html

Englishmaven · Accepted Answer

I'm an American who teaches English. In the USA, we try to put punctuation inside the quotation marks when it is feasible. In the UK, the punctuation is outside the quotation marks. My students see it both ways online (bear in mind that there are a lot of errors to see online), so I have to explain to them that the custom to put the punctuation inside the quotation marks is American. These rules are considered right or wrong according to the custom of the country involved. It is a case of "When in Rome," so to speak. In the US, this "rule" is tested quite a bit on standardized tests. We don't want to say that one use is better than the other. We accept and respect the usage of the country involved.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you for your reply. The British rule only places the period outside in special circumstances such as when the title of a book falls at the end of a sentence. I am wondering if this qualifies as a special circumstances but I cannot find examples of quoted phrases in inverted commas at the end of a sentence.

Vic Z · Answer

I am BrE and always put the full stop outside of the quotes, which might be because I was taught that way, or maybe I'm just a lost cause. The American way is one of those small things that I find irrationally irritating, like using '-ize' instead of '-ise'. Tragic, I know.

Fivejedjon · Answer

Vic ZI am BrE and always put the full stop outside of the quotes

So do I, a fellow speaker of BrE.

Vic Z like using '-ize' instead of '-ise'

Like speakers of BrE who follow Oxford spellings!

Vic Z · Answer

Perhaps we need a referendum..

BarbaraPA · Answer

I thought if the entire quoted passage was a full sentence, you put the period inside the quotes, no?

I understand that doesn't apply in this case, but it was the "always" comment that confused me.

Fivejedjon · Answer

BarbaraPAI thought if the entire quoted passage was a full sentence, you put the period inside the quotes, no?

Yes. If there is nothing before the quotation marks, then there is no reason to end the sentence (with the period) after the quotation marks..

BarbaraPA · Answer

I do find this confusing.

The only part of his sentence I could make out was "a week from Wednesday". -- Is this right? (In the U.S., we'd put it inside, but here it's just a fragment.)

I clearly heard him say,"I will be there a week from Wednesday." -- With his whole utterance as a complete sentence, you would not put the full stop right after his last word?

Thanks.

Fivejedjon · Answer

BarbaraPAThe only part of his sentence I could make out was "a week from Wednesday". -- Is this right? (In the U.S., we'd put it inside, but here it's just a fragment.)

That's right

BarbaraPAI clearly heard him say,"I will be there a week from Wednesday." -- With his whole utterance as a complete sentence, you would not put the full stop right after his last word?

I would not. The reason becomes clear if you consider:

Did you hear him say "I will be there a week from Wednesday"?

Note that I also omit the comma after 'say'.

BarbaraPA · Answer

Thanks. If I end up writing for a UK audience, I will make sure I have an editor. I'm pretty sure I'll still make a lot of mistakes.

Placing of a period when using quotation marks

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