Semicolon and quotation marks?

Question

Where do you put the semicolon when it needs to follow after quotation marks? I am convinced that it possibly cannot be put inside, like you would do with commas.

However, on the outside it looks *** as well. Even MS Word doesn't like it. This is the way Word fixed it and it looks good in my opinion. What is yours?

"For instance, some patients have no record of "symptoms at any age" or "onset symptoms," however; "pharmacological treatment response" has been recorded."

Clive · Accepted Answer

Are you sure you want the semi-colon to follow however? Or was that Word's idea? In terms of meaning, it looks to me like it should precede it.
eg "For instance, some patients have no record of "symptoms at any age" or "onset symptoms"; however, "pharmacological treatment response" has been recorded."

I'd also consider this..
"For instance, some patients have no record of "symptoms at any age" or "onset symptoms". However, "pharmacological treatment response" has been recorded."

Clive

Daithy · Answer

Thanks Clive. I had considered both of the options you have provided. The second one doesn't convey the message the way I wanted it. The first one, however, is exactly what I had in mind and thought to be correct, then Word underlined it blue. Upon clicking on the word suggestion, it suggested however;. I was shocked myself.

So does this mean that my preconception was correct, "blabla"; however, is fine?

Clive · Answer

Fine to me, although some other people here might disagree. Punctuation can be hotly debated sometimes.

I'd also consider this.
"For instance, some patients have no record of "symptoms at any age" or "onset symptoms" yet "pharmacological treatment response" has been recorded."

Clive

Semicolon and quotation marks?

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