Punctuation within and without quotation marks

by compound complex 73 Replies latest social physical

• 

  kurtbethel

  http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/quotes.asp

  Clickable link opens a new tab so you do not leave this site.
• 

  compound complex

  Thanks, Kurt!

  **********************

  The State Department said Clinton was dehydrated because of the virus, fainted and sustained a concussion. She will continue to work from home in the week ahead and looks forward to returning to the office "soon," the statement said.

  http://news.yahoo.com/secretary-state-faints-sustains-concussion-172605823--politics.html

  Notice that comma is within close of quotation marks of underscored word in the above text.

  CC
• 

  ÁrbolesdeArabia

  Complex" do you own a copy of the "Heath Handbook"?
• 

  ÁrbolesdeArabia

  Complex" do you own a copy of the "Heath Handbook"?
• 

  compound complex

  No, Arboles, I don't, but thanks for the mention. I use Strunk and White.

  Will order one - looks good!

  Peace.

  CoCo
• 

  compound complex

  From Kurt's link:

  Quotation Marks

  </form>

  ---

  Rule 1

  Periods and commas always go inside quotation marks, even inside single quotes.

  Examples:
  The sign changed from "Walk," to "Don't Walk," to "Walk" again within 30 seconds.

  She said, "Hurry up."

  She said, "He said, 'Hurry up.'"

  Rule 2

  The placement of question marks with quotes follows logic. If a question is in quotation marks, the question mark should be placed inside the quotation marks.

  Examples:She asked, "Will you still be my friend?"

  Do you agree with the saying, "All's fair in love and war"?
  Here the question is outside the quote.

  NOTE: Only one ending punctuation mark is used with quotation marks. Also, the stronger punctuation mark wins. Therefore, no period after war is used.
• 

  Jeffro

  The sign changed from "Walk," to "Don't Walk," to "Walk" again within 30 seconds.

  Sigh... Only in America...

  In proper English, unless in the unlikely event that the flashing sign actually intermittently includes commas, the commas should be outside the quotation marks:

  The sign changed from "Walk", to "Don't Walk", to "Walk" again within 30 seconds.
• 

  compound complex

  Thanks, Jeffro.

  I appreciate your input and am aware of the validity of your point; however, I read The Telegraph daily and find that, in virtually all cases, punctuation is within. Could it be only when they are quoting Americans?

  Further thoughts or examples are welcome.

  Gratefully,

  CoCo
• 

  compound complex

  I stand corrected:

  Allistair Buchanan, Ofgem’s chief executive, accused National Grid earlier this year of not “doing its homework properly”.

  He said that if the Grid had been “honest”, then Ofgem was unlikely to revise the plans, while if the Grid provided new information to justify changes, it might be penalised for failing to disclose it sooner.

  The Telegraph, 16 December 2012
• 

  compound complex

  Have to do some research on time frame relative to this; I remember - vaguely - a debate in the past over this issue. I'm sure we punctuated outside the close of quotation marks years ago.

  What happened?

  CoCo