Punctuation Questions Long
When using quotation marks with other punctuation marks, there are a few rules to keep in mind:
1. Commas and periods: In American English, commas and periods are always placed inside the closing quotation mark. For example:
- She said, "I will be there soon."
- He asked, "Where are you going?"
2. Question marks and exclamation points: The placement of question marks and exclamation points depends on the context. If the punctuation mark is part of the quoted material, it should be placed inside the closing quotation mark. For example:
- Did she really say, "I love you"?
- He shouted, "Stop!"
However, if the question mark or exclamation point is not part of the quoted material, it should be placed outside the closing quotation mark. For example:
- Did you hear him say, "I can't believe it"?
- She exclaimed, "I won!"
3. Colons and semicolons: Colons and semicolons are always placed outside the closing quotation mark. For example:
- She told me: "I need your help."
- He wrote a note; it said, "I'll be back soon."
4. Parentheses and brackets: Parentheses and brackets are placed outside the closing quotation mark if they are not part of the quoted material. However, if they are part of the quoted material, they should be placed inside the closing quotation mark. For example:
- She said, "I saw him (the suspect) running away."
- He asked, "Did you read the article ('The Importance of Sleep')?"
5. Ellipses: When using ellipses (three dots indicating omitted words) with quotation marks, the ellipses should be placed inside the closing quotation mark. For example:
- She said, "I don't know... maybe it's time to move on."
It is important to note that these rules may vary slightly depending on the style guide or the country's punctuation conventions. Therefore, it is always advisable to consult the specific guidelines or preferences of the intended audience or publication.