Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Periods and Quotations

This is topic Periods and Quotations in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :

When does a period belong inside a quote, and when does it belong outside?

Ex:
1) (... that's really good." )
2) (... that's really good".)

Posted by micmcd (Member # 7977) on :

I was under the impression that you never put a period just outside a quote.

Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :

Definitely Number One. Period at the end of the sentence, and inside the quotation marks.

Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :

I've hoped futiley that questions on punctuation with quotations wouldn't come up. Chicago's index has two and a half columns on quotations and covers several areas related to whether a period should go inside or outside quote marks. Wikipedia's style manual and other emerging manuals of style for online publication cover another range. Science and academic style manuals like MLA cover another range.

U.S. English typological usage for dialogue in prose and journalism, known as typesetter's quotes, periods always go inside with one optional exception, unless not a part of cited or quoted text.

British English usage according to Hart's Rules or Oxford Guide to Style, periods always go outside and with single quote marks.

Online logical quotes according to Wikipedia online style manual, periods always go outside for cited text or quoted dialogue, unless the period is an internal part of the original text or quote. Always inside when quote marks are used to indicate emphasis. Emphasis is treated differently in other styles.

[This message has been edited by extrinsic (edited August 11, 2009).]

Posted by philocinemas (Member # 8108) on :

Here is my layman's breakdown:

1 - In dialogue the period is always inside the quotes, unless the sentence ends in a tag, then there is not a period but a comma.

ex. Dad said, "Get in the car." (OR) "Get in the car," said Dad.

2 - In quoting a fragment of something said or the title of something that should be in quotes, it is preferable to put the period after the quotes.

ex. Dad said the car was "a lemon". (OR) My favorite short story is "The Open Window".

Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :

Thanks everyone. Now what about parenthesis?

...(the big red one).

...(the big red one.)

Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :

This one's fairly global in U.S. English styles.

Inside when terminating a complete parenthetical sentence between the parentheses. Sentence capital case applies too.

Outside when the parenthetical is an incomplete sentence related to a preceding sentence clause.