Do Periods Go Inside Quotes?

The Basics of Quotation Marks

Quotation marks are punctuation marks used to set off direct quotations, to show titles of works, and to indicate a character’s speech. They are also used to draw attention to certain words or phrases in a sentence. Quotation marks can be used in many different ways, depending on the context.

The Rules of Punctuation With Quotation Marks

When it comes to punctuation and quotation marks, there are certain rules that must be followed. Generally, periods and commas always go inside the quotation marks. This is true for both single and double quotes.

Example of Periods Inside Quotation Marks

For example, if you were to use a quote from John Smith, you would need to include the period inside the quotation marks. The sentence would look like this: John Smith said, “I love going for walks.”

Example of Other Punctuation Inside Quotation Marks

In addition to periods, other punctuation marks like question marks, exclamation points and dashes should also be placed inside the quotation marks. For example, if you were to use a quote from Jane Doe, you would need to include the question mark inside the quotation marks. The sentence would look like this: Jane Doe asked, “Do you like to play basketball?”

When to Place Punctuation Outside the Quotation Marks

There are certain cases when punctuation should be placed outside of the quotation marks. For example, if the quote is part of a larger sentence, the punctuation should be placed outside the quotation marks. For example, the sentence would look like this: Have you heard John Smith say “I love going for walks”? In this case, the question mark is not part of the quote, so it should be placed outside of the quotation marks.

The Difference Between British and American English

It’s important to note that British English and American English differ when it comes to punctuation and quotation marks. In British English, periods and commas are placed outside the quotation marks. However, other punctuation marks like question marks, exclamation points and dashes are placed inside the quotation marks.

Summary

To sum it up, periods and commas always go inside the quotation marks in American English. Other punctuation marks like question marks, exclamation points and dashes should also be placed inside the quotation marks. In British English, periods and commas are placed outside the quotation marks, while other punctuation marks like question marks, exclamation points and dashes are placed inside the quotation marks.