Tagged Questions

-3
votes
2answers
79 views

Parenthesis and quotations having punctuation before AND after them [closed]

I'll have to come up with some examples to show you my question: I know if a sentence is inside either, the punctuation is inside (I also know I use a lot of comma splices. I think of the way the ...
2
votes
1answer
129 views

Serial commas in quotations

If the publication you are proofing for uses the serial comma, and an essay you're proofing includes a quotation from a biography that does not use a serial comma, is it permissible to silently add ...
30
votes
3answers
2k views

Why does the multi-paragraph quotation rule exist?

The answer to this question clearly explains the standard rule that when you have multiple quoted paragraphs, each new paragraph starts with an opening quotation mark, but only the final quoted ...
-1
votes
1answer
101 views

Exclamation mark at the end of a quote and end of a sentence [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: When should end punctuation go inside quotes? Is the grammar at the end of the following sentence correct? If not, what should it be? I was told in no uncertain ...
2
votes
0answers
417 views

How to punctuate a quote within a quote? [duplicate]

Duplicate of: What’s the difference between using single and double quotation marks/inverted commas? How are embedded quotations used? And: When should end punctuation go inside quotes? ...
3
votes
2answers
261 views

When should you use italics to reference an example and when should it be inside apostrophes?

When should you use italics to reference an example or quote, and when should it be inside apostrophes instead? (I am trying to tighten up here. I write in advertising and we break so many rules with ...
3
votes
2answers
261 views

Punctuation with block-quotes

How do I properly place a comma after a big block-quote? Let's say I have a sentence like this: The author states: < a big quote goes here. >, therefore... Since my sentence continues after ...
0
votes
0answers
28 views

How should punctuation marks be arranged next to quotation marks or parentheses? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: When should end punctuation go inside quotes? Where does the period go when using parentheses? Here is an example: My favorite word is "cat." Here is another ...
4
votes
2answers
184 views

Punctuation following “along the lines of ”

When the phrase “along the lines of” introduces an indirect quote, what punctuation, if any, is used? This is the original sentence that brought up the issue: I heard replies along the lines of ...
2
votes
2answers
607 views

Plurals of quotations: “Chorus of ‘Hello’s”; “Ooh”s & “Ah”s

Is there a way to pluralize a quotation? E.g., He was greeted with a chorus of “Hello”s. or Her daring earned “Ooh”s & “Ahh”s from around the room. With actual dictionary words ...
0
votes
4answers
219 views

Correct punctuation to introduce a supporting quote

What is the correct way to punctuate the end of a sentence before a quote that directly supports the statement? I assume either a colon or a semicolon, but I have no idea which is correct. For ...
2
votes
2answers
273 views

What do you do when you end the first part of a compound sentence with a quote? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: How should I punctuate around quotes? For example, if I want to show someone's response in the same sentence, what would I do? Would the comma from the end of the quote ...
1
vote
2answers
423 views

Capitalization and punctuation rules for formatted quotations appearing in the middle of the sentence

My question regards situations when the mid-sentence quotation, such as This is a mid-sentence quotation which stands out by its formatting , stands out by its formatting. I understand that ...
3
votes
3answers
152 views

Quotation in sentence [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: How should I punctuate around quotes? How does one punctuate a sentence that contains a quotation in the middle? For example, is it: 1) Those who say, "My system is ...
2
votes
3answers
325 views

Should one stick to American style of placing punctuation marks within quotes if one uses the American spelling?

According to Wikipedia, there are two ways to use punctation marks when it comes to quoting. Basically, we have the British style, where punctation marks that don't come from the quoted material "is ...
12
votes
5answers
954 views

How to punctuate a quoted question within a question?

How would I punctuate the bold portion? "Who are you?" she asked. "Wait," I replied, "did you just ask me Who are you?" I would use the following: "Wait," I replied, "did you just ask ...
8
votes
2answers
823 views

Comma placement when using quotes that end with a question mark [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: How should I punctuate around quotes? I've been writing a letter to an editor, and one line of my response reads: In your article "What Makes Free Will Free?" you ...
1
vote
1answer
177 views

Quotes and Punctuation [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Is it ever acceptable for a period to come after a quote at the end of a sentence? How should I punctuate around quotes? I graduated with an English Major from Radford ...
7
votes
1answer
431 views

What is the best way to mention a word: italics, quotes, or single-quotes (apostrophes)?

If I want to mention the word "furlong", for example, should I use furlong, "furlong", or 'furlong'? Also, am I correct in putting the punctuation outside the quotes?
10
votes
3answers
1k views

Quoting a question at the end of a sentence which is itself a question

If my sentence is a question and ends with a quote of a question, where exactly do I put a question mark? Did she ask, "Is it raining"? Did she ask, "Is it raining?"? Did she ask, "Is it ...
5
votes
3answers
844 views

Should a period be placed within quotation marks if it would conflict with a punctuated item that should be used or typed verbatim?

Gee whiz! Just when I thought I had the "period within quotation marks" rules set firmly in my personal punctuational code, I hit upon this sentence: All message IDs are pre-pended with the value ...
5
votes
4answers
2k views

Where should the period be put when an entire sentence is quoted at the end of a sentence?

As in the following: A common proverb is: “A rolling stone gathers no moss.” A common proverb is: “A rolling stone gathers no moss”. A common proverb is: “A rolling stone gathers no ...
12
votes
5answers
4k views

Appropriate dash to use when attributing a quotation?

If I’m citing a poem or quotation, what kind of dash precedes the author’s name? Example: This Business of Printing; which I am heartily tired of, and repent I e’er attempted. . . .           ...
301
votes
18answers
19k views

How do you quote a passage that has used '[sic]' mistakenly?

The usage of '[sic]' is well defined for quoting a passage that you believe has an error in it: nearest to the mistake you place '[sic]' within the quotes. For example, suppose I write a letter from I ...
1
vote
2answers
261 views

“I would often tell you.”

Can you have a sentence like ________________, I would often tell you. and the part that's left out isn't in quotes?
0
votes
2answers
1k views

Does a comma have to be used before a quotation?

If before the quote the word "saying" or "said" is used, does a comma always have to be used before it? When does a comma not have to be used?
12
votes
2answers
928 views

Any reference on the usage of a backtick and single quotation mark like `this'?

Why do I sometimes see a backtick with a single quote `like this'? What's the name of this usage? What are some good references so I can find more information by myself?
2
votes
2answers
1k views

Use quotation marks for internal monologue?

In a similar vein to my previous question on styling written quotes, should I use quotation marks for interior monologue in narrative writing? It is common to use italics to denote thoughts: This ...
4
votes
1answer
2k views

Use quotation marks or italics for written quotes?

In narrative writing, should I use quotation marks or italics when I quote something someone wrote? I would go with italics to differentiate written from spoken quotes: “I know who the killer ...
1
vote
1answer
109 views

Punctuation placement in speech [duplicate]

Possible Duplicates: Is it ever acceptable for a period to come after a quote at the end of a sentence? How much punctuation is appropriate when ending a sentence with a full-sentence ...
1
vote
2answers
440 views

What's the rule for punctuating quoted words or phrases?

Please bear with me as I am not an English expert, only an aspiring amateur! I'm mostly aware of the rules regarding punctuation and quotes. Something like the following sentence makes sense to me: ...