period in quotes? and colon questions

thrillerz · Jun 6, 2011

Where does period/question mark go if last word is in double quotes?

Where does period/question mark go if last word is in single quotes?

Why use a colon after the word line in, "Bottom line, why take the chance?"

Thanks!

Lil · Jun 6, 2011

For the first two, I'm not sure what you mean. Is the last word itself the only thing in quotes? In which case, I don't see how it could be in single quotes.
The general rule in U.S. usage is that the period always goes inside the quotation marks whether it makes sense or not. The question marks goes in or out depending on sense. Eg: Are you reading a book? Are you reading my essay, "What to Do Now"?
As for #3, it could be "Bottom line: Why take the chance?" or it could be as you have written it. Either one is acceptable. Your choice.

absitinvidia · Jun 6, 2011

Answers for American English:

Period goes inside quotation marks, whether single or double.

For dialogue (when a speaker is asking a question), question mark always goes inside quotation marks.

Otherwise, the position of the question mark depends on what is inside the quotation marks:

If the quoted material is a question and would normally have a quotation mark, then the question mark goes inside the quotation marks:

"Today's topic is 'How do you grow vegetables when you don't have a garden?'"

If the quoted material would not have a question mark, then the question mark goes outside the quotation marks:

"Did you say today's topic is 'How to grow vegetables when you don't have a garden'?"

blacbird · Jun 6, 2011

absitinvidia said:
Answers for American English:

Period goes inside quotation marks, whether single or double.

For dialogue (when a speaker is asking a question), question mark always goes inside quotation marks.

Otherwise, the position of the question mark depends on what is inside the quotation marks:

If the quoted material is a question and would normally have a quotation mark, then the question mark goes inside the quotation marks:

"Today's topic is 'How do you grow vegetables when you don't have a garden?'"

If the quoted material would not have a question mark, then the question mark goes outside the quotation marks:

I think the period works the same way, outside the quotation marks if it is used in a non-dialogue manner. I could be wrong about this, but it seems to make sense as a simple matter of consistency. Anyone else know a specific rule that would differentiate the use of a period from the use of a question mark (or exclamation mark, or even a comma or semicolon)?

Fallen · Jun 6, 2011

Colon:

'why take the chance' is the explanation to 'bottom line': the colon shows that.

[The] bottom line [is]: why take the chance?

Quoting:

(British English) we do do it the american way too, but also:

When it's a full quote inside a quote:

'Bottom line: why take the chance?' he said so softly.

'He said "Bottom line: why take the chance?" so softly.'

I know we don't use punctuation inside the quote if it's a book:

'She said she'd read "War Of The Worlds".'

"I've read "War Of The Worlds",' she said.

His book is: "Bottom line: Why take the chance?" (I'f the author has included the question mark, you do to, if he hasn't: it's "Bottom libe: Why take the chance", you don't either).

Deleted member 42 · Jun 6, 2011

The colon and semicolon always go outside the closing quotation mark.

Chase · Jun 6, 2011

absitinvidia said:
Answers for American English:

Period goes inside quotation marks, whether single or double.

For dialogue (when a speaker is asking a question), question mark always goes inside quotation marks.

Otherwise, the position of the question mark depends on what is inside the quotation marks:

If the quoted material is a question and would normally have a quotation mark, then the question mark goes inside the quotation marks:

"Today's topic is 'How do you grow vegetables when you don't have a garden?'"

If the quoted material would not have a question mark, then the question mark goes outside the quotation marks:

"Did you say today's topic is 'How to grow vegetables when you don't have a garden'?"

For U.S. publications, the above is completely correct.

blacbird said:
I think the period works the same way, outside the quotation marks if it is used in a non-dialogue manner. I could be wrong about this, but it seems to make sense as a simple matter of consistency. Anyone else know a specific rule that would differentiate the use of a period from the use of a question mark (or exclamation mark, or even a comma or semicolon)?

The "arbitrary" U.S. rule is consistent for commas and periods: All go inside the end quote when they appear together. Always. No exceptions:

"D-Day was June 6, 1944," the teacher said.

The teacher said, "D-Day was June 6, 1944."

The question mark and exclamation point depend.

If the entire line is a question or exclamation, it's treated the same as the punctuation above:

"D-Day was June 6, 1944?" the student asked.

"D-Day was June 6, 1944!" the teacher shouted.

In rarer cases where the quotation is part of an interior statement (or a quoted title) the question mark and exclamation point go outside the endquote.

Did you read Sgt. Smith's account of D-Day, "I Was There"?

The teacher screamed to read "I Was There"!

Colons and semicolons always go outside the end quote:

These are contained in "I Was There": the song, "Anchors Aweigh"; the poem, "Soldier Boy"; and the photo of a steel helmet half-buried in the sand of Omaha Beach.

Terie · Jun 7, 2011

Chase said:
The "arbitrary" U.S. rule is consistent for commas, exclamation marks, and the period: All go inside the end quote when they appear together. Always. No exceptions:

Not quite. The US rule is consistent for commas and periods: inside the quotes. But exclamation marks follow the same rule (well-explained above) as for question marks: if the exclamation applies to what's inside the quotes, the exclamation mark goes inside the quotes, but if the exclamation applies to the whole sentence, it goes outside.

Mary said, "I'm so excited that John and Bill are having a baby!"

I'm so excited that John and Bill are "having a baby"!

thrillerz · Jun 7, 2011

Thanks - lots to learn.

Terie · Jun 7, 2011

thrillerz said:
Thanks - lots to learn.

Get yourself a basic grammar book. I'd recommend something used to teach grammar to junior high kids, since these are written at a basic level and easy to understand and learn from.

If you can't find jr high/high school level books, try your local university or junior college bookshop. Ask for the textbooks that are used for basic English classes.

Skim through the choices and buy the one that you find easiest to understand.

My standby for many years was The Little, Brown Handbook. (Published by Little, Brown...get it? That always cracked me up.

) There are many good ones, though. Choose the one that works best for you.

thrillerz · Jun 7, 2011

Terie - what about using OWL (from Perdue Univ.) online? How does that compare to buying yet another book? Thanks.

Chase · Jun 7, 2011

Terie said:
Not quite. The US rule is consistent for commas and periods: inside the quotes. But exclamation marks follow the same rule (well-explained above) as for question marks: if the exclamation applies to what's inside the quotes, the exclamation mark goes inside the quotes, but if the exclamation applies to the whole sentence, it goes outside.

thrillerz said:
what about using OWL (from Purdue Univ.) online? How does that compare to buying yet another book?

Terie and a recent print reference in my library agree with OWL Purdue Online Writing Lab: Place a question mark or exclamation point within closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the quotation itself. Place the punctuation outside the closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the whole sentence.

I've used writing texts and evaluations from Purdue/Ball State College, and they've always proved great tools.

My apologies for the flawed part of my off-the-cuff response and applaud Terie for the correction. A huge perk for posters in this public forum is discussion to keep each other honest. I'll go back to try a fix for my mess, not to cover myself but to erase an oops on the blackboard.

Ha ha, still working on the examples. Not yet the best. Thanks, Bufty.

Fallen · Jun 8, 2011

Medievalist said:
The colon and semicolon always go outside the closing quotation mark.

Gawd-dang it. Mainly for proofing reasons, can you show me what the op's example should like then, pleeeeeeeeease.

Terie · Jun 8, 2011

Medievalist said:
The colon and semicolon always go outside the closing quotation mark.

Fallen said:
Gawd-dang it. Mainly for proofing reasons, can you show me what the op's example should like then, pleeeeeeeeease.

Medievalist was talking about colons and semicolons in relation to the end of the quoted material. If a colon or semicolon is in the middle of the quoted material, you use it as usual.

Hence:

The following couples are "having a baby": John and Bill, Jeremy and Bob, and Jim and Bruce.

Not:

~~The following couples are "having a baby:" John and Bill, Jeremy and Bob, and Jim and Bruce.~~

Deleted member 42 · Jun 8, 2011

Terie said:
Medievalist was talking about colons and semicolons in relation to the end of the quoted material. If a colon or semicolon is in the middle of the quoted material, you use it as usual.

Yep.

Fallen · Jun 8, 2011

Crossed reading wires

the op asked why the colon went after 'line', Medievalist was replying to someone else further down when they asked where and when the colon would go before/after the end of qutoes.

Had me thinking it was a different way of presenting colons across the sea. Which had me worried.

Teach me not to skip, won't it.

Terie said:
Medievalist was talking about colons and semicolons in relation to the end of the quoted material. If a colon or semicolon is in the middle of the quoted material, you use it as usual.

Hence:

Not:

period in quotes? and colon questions

thrillerz

Lil

absitinvidia

A bit of a wallflower

blacbird

Fallen

Stood at the coalface

Deleted member 42

Chase

It Takes All of Us to End Racism

Terie

Writer is as Writer does

thrillerz

Terie

Writer is as Writer does

thrillerz

Chase

It Takes All of Us to End Racism

Fallen

Stood at the coalface

Terie

Writer is as Writer does

Deleted member 42

Fallen

Stood at the coalface