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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
Punctuation inside quotes.
Hi all,
I'm curious to know which punctuation should be used inside quotes, and if it's only some, why not all?
For example, if I were to quote a question which of these two would be correct?:
1A. I asked her, "how is he?".
1B. I asked her, "how is he?"
I'd presume that for an exclamation mark, the same rule would apply as for a question mark. Which of these two would be correct?:
2A. I told him, "he is ok!".
2B. I told him, "he is ok!"
So, I would think that in both cases "A" is the correct example. If this is right, which of these is correct?:
3A. I told her, "he'll be ok.".
3B. I told her, "he'll be ok".
I think that, almost definitely, B is correct here. So, if I'm correct about the first two also, why does the rule apply to only some punctuation? Or, am I completely wrong on all 3?
Many thanks,
Festy
I'm curious to know which punctuation should be used inside quotes, and if it's only some, why not all?
For example, if I were to quote a question which of these two would be correct?:
1A. I asked her, "how is he?".
1B. I asked her, "how is he?"
I'd presume that for an exclamation mark, the same rule would apply as for a question mark. Which of these two would be correct?:
2A. I told him, "he is ok!".
2B. I told him, "he is ok!"
So, I would think that in both cases "A" is the correct example. If this is right, which of these is correct?:
3A. I told her, "he'll be ok.".
3B. I told her, "he'll be ok".
I think that, almost definitely, B is correct here. So, if I'm correct about the first two also, why does the rule apply to only some punctuation? Or, am I completely wrong on all 3?
Many thanks,
Festy
Top answer
[nq:1]Hi all, I'm curious to know which punctuation should be used inside quotes, and if it's only some, why not ... : 2A. ".
- [nq:1]Hi all, I'm curious to know which punctuation should be used inside quotes, and if it's only some, why not ...
- : 2A.
- ".
- 2B.
- "[/nq] Both the British system and the American system recommend omitting the period (full stop).
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15 Answers
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[nq:1]Hi all, I'm curious to know which punctuation should be used inside quotes, and if it's only some, why not ... of these two would be correct?: 2A. I told him, "he is ok!". 2B. I told him, "he is ok!"[/nq]
Both the British system and the American system recommend omitting the period (full stop). The question mark and exclamation mark are stronger sentence endings, so the other mark is not
Both the British system and the American system recommend omitting the period (full stop). The question mark and exclamation mark are stronger sentence endings, so the other mark is not
00
[nq:1]I'm curious to know which punctuation should be used inside quotes, and if it's only some, why not all?[/nq]
This is a style rule i.e. non-arbitrary but
conventional. All you need decide is whether
you wish to subscribe to the convention. You
do not need to reinvent the rule for yourself.
There are several style books (I follow the
Chicago Manual of Style) and if you
This is a style rule i.e. non-arbitrary but
conventional. All you need decide is whether
you wish to subscribe to the convention. You
do not need to reinvent the rule for yourself.
There are several style books (I follow the
Chicago Manual of Style) and if you
00
[nq:1]Hi all, I'm curious to know which punctuation should be used inside quotes, and if it's only some, why not ... why does the rule apply to only some punctuation? Or, am I completely wrong on all 3? Many thanks, Festy[/nq]
In American usage, periods and commas go inside quotation marks. Colons and semi-colons go outside. Question marks and exclamation points go inside if they are part of t
In American usage, periods and commas go inside quotation marks. Colons and semi-colons go outside. Question marks and exclamation points go inside if they are part of t
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[nq:2]I think that, almost definitely, B is correct here. So, ... some punctuation? Or, am I completely wrong on all 3?[/nq]
[nq:1]All three unfortunately.[/nq]
I'm happy to be given the correct answer! Thanks to all respondents!
Festy
[nq:1]All three unfortunately.[/nq]
I'm happy to be given the correct answer! Thanks to all respondents!
Festy
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[nq:2]In American usage, periods and commas go inside quotation marks. ... British usage is different, but I'm not sure how. Cece[/nq]
At risk of causing topic drift, does everyone agree that a comma after pentheses (like this), is superfluous or desirable?
RickyC
At risk of causing topic drift, does everyone agree that a comma after pentheses (like this), is superfluous or desirable?
RickyC
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[nq:2]At risk of causing topic drift, does everyone agree that a comma after pentheses (like this), is superfluous or desirable?[/nq]
Sorry, let me rewrite that...
[nq:2]At risk of causing topic drift, does anyone agree that a comma after pentheses (like this), is superfluous or do you consider it desirable?[/nq]
RickyC
Sorry, let me rewrite that...
[nq:2]At risk of causing topic drift, does anyone agree that a comma after pentheses (like this), is superfluous or do you consider it desirable?[/nq]
RickyC
00
[nq:1]Sorry, let me rewrite that... RickyC[/nq]
The problem with that comma is that its only purpose seems to be to separate the subject from the predicate, which is not a correct use. Parentheses have nothing to do with it.
Commas may be used after parentheses. The following is from a post I made to the newsgroup alt.usage.english a couple of years ago: "In the Midway, an area in St. Paul
The problem with that comma is that its only purpose seems to be to separate the subject from the predicate, which is not a correct use. Parentheses have nothing to do with it.
Commas may be used after parentheses. The following is from a post I made to the newsgroup alt.usage.english a couple of years ago: "In the Midway, an area in St. Paul
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[nq:1](RickyC)[/nq]
In addition to a "me, too," just in case there's any confusion, permit me to add that the decision whether to put a comma after a closing parenthesis mark has to do with the grammar of the sentence, not the presence of the parenthesis. Ray's quotation demonstrates that. Usually the easiest way to decide whether a comma is needed in such a position is to imagine the entire p
In addition to a "me, too," just in case there's any confusion, permit me to add that the decision whether to put a comma after a closing parenthesis mark has to do with the grammar of the sentence, not the presence of the parenthesis. Ray's quotation demonstrates that. Usually the easiest way to decide whether a comma is needed in such a position is to imagine the entire p
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[nq:2]In addition to a "me, too," just in case there's ... such a position is to imagine the entire parenthesis deleted.[/nq]
I see your (and Robert's) point - thank you. However, don't you think that the parethases create the same 'pause' that the comma is used for, and they therefore do away with the need for a subsequent comma? Of course, there is no real harm in adding a comma, but I just
I see your (and Robert's) point - thank you. However, don't you think that the parethases create the same 'pause' that the comma is used for, and they therefore do away with the need for a subsequent comma? Of course, there is no real harm in adding a comma, but I just
00
[nq:1]I see your (and Robert's) point - thank you. However, don't you think that the parethases create the same 'pause' ... comma? Of course, there is no real harm in adding a comma, but I just like to avoid unnecessary punctuation.[/nq]
Um, the correct word is "parentheses" for the marks; the text they enclose is a parenthesis (also the name for one of the marks by itself).
Diagramma
Um, the correct word is "parentheses" for the marks; the text they enclose is a parenthesis (also the name for one of the marks by itself).
Diagramma
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