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Victo Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Please settle dispute
Hoping that someone from Britain (or another expert) can settle this.
Minor quibble at work involving British punctuation in this sentence:
When Ben said, “I don't do well with ultimatums", he incurred the wrath of Officer Smith.
I said that per British punctuation rules, the comma would go outside the ending quote marks, mid-sentence, after the word "ultimatums" in the italicized, boldfaced sentence above. ---> (... ultimatums", ...).
I'm told that the comma goes inside, per British rules, because it's sort of functioning as a mid-sentence period within the quotes.
Inside or outside (as I have it) per BrE rules?
Thanks.
Minor quibble at work involving British punctuation in this sentence:
When Ben said, “I don't do well with ultimatums", he incurred the wrath of Officer Smith.
I said that per British punctuation rules, the comma would go outside the ending quote marks, mid-sentence, after the word "ultimatums" in the italicized, boldfaced sentence above. ---> (... ultimatums", ...).
I'm told that the comma goes inside, per British rules, because it's sort of functioning as a mid-sentence period within the quotes.
Inside or outside (as I have it) per BrE rules?
Thanks.
Top answer
That's how I'd do it.
- That's how I'd do it.
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14 Answers
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But!
Per BrE rules, the comma would go 'inside' as exampled below – yes?
"If Kim Jong Un decides to launch a missile, whether it's across the Sea of Japan or some other direction, he will be choosing wilfully to ignore the entire international community," he said.
Per BrE rules, the comma would go 'inside' as exampled below – yes?
"If Kim Jong Un decides to launch a missile, whether it's across the Sea of Japan or some other direction, he will be choosing wilfully to ignore the entire international community," he said.
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That's where the confusion lies. Part of the original ... meaning what? Could you please give a very brief explanation? In other words, when would the comma go outside in a sentence like that?
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In general, if the comma, period, question mark etc. is part of the quotation it goes inside. If it is not part of the quotation it goes outside. Colons and semi-colons always go outside.
Not being good with punctuation, I always put my commas outside the quotes, but you should do as I say, not as I do.
Not being good with punctuation, I always put my commas outside the quotes, but you should do as I say, not as I do.
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victoInside or outside (as I have it) per BrE rules?Outside because the comma is not part of the quotation. The only time a comma would go inside is when the quotation is interrupted: "If you'll hold still," he said, "I'll have us disentangled."
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But if the quote is interrupted like this:
“That”, he said, “is an interesting book."
the comma would go outside of the introductory quote marks (after“That”) because the original sentence does not call for that comma up until that point, correct?
Ie, the original sentence is not punctuated thusly:
Th
“That”, he said, “is an interesting book."
the comma would go outside of the introductory quote marks (after“That”) because the original sentence does not call for that comma up until that point, correct?
Ie, the original sentence is not punctuated thusly:
Th
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That is interesting to know about British's rules.
In the United States, I was taught that periods and commas go inside the quotation. Semi-colons and colons go outside, and question marks and exclamation marks depend if it is apart of the quote (inside-apart; outside-not apart).
In the United States, I was taught that periods and commas go inside the quotation. Semi-colons and colons go outside, and question marks and exclamation marks depend if it is apart of the quote (inside-apart; outside-not apart).
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victothe comma would go outside of “That” because the original sentence does not call for that comma up until that point, correct?Of course. I left a critical point implied: The only time a comma would go inside is when the quotation is interrupted and the comma belongs with it. That’s better, isn’t it?
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