Quotes are used to set off a direct quotation or a piece of dialogue. They can be single quotation marks or double quotation marks depending on the type of quote. Knowing where to place the period relative to the quote marks is an important part of writing correctly.
What are Quotes?
Quotes are punctuation marks used to set off a direct quotation or a piece of dialogue. Quotes can be either single or double quotation marks. Single quotation marks are generally used for a quote within a quote, while double quotation marks are used for a direct quotation. Quotes are also used in titles of articles, stories, and other written works.
Does the Period Go Inside or Outside?
The period always goes inside the quotation marks. This is true for both single and double quotation marks. It doesn’t matter if the sentence is a statement, a question, or an exclamation. The period should always go inside the quotation marks.
Grammar Rules for Quotes
In American English, the usual practice is to put periods and commas inside the quotation marks. Other punctuation marks, such as colons, semicolons, question marks, and exclamation points, should go outside the quotation marks unless they are part of the quoted material. In British English, the opposite is true: all punctuation marks should go outside the quotation marks unless they are part of the quoted material.
How to Remember the Rule
One way to remember the rule is to think of the period as part of the quote. Since the period is part of the quote, it should be included inside the quotation marks. Another way to remember the rule is to think of the quotation marks as parentheses. The period should go inside the parentheses, just as it should go inside the quotation marks.
When it comes to punctuating quotes, the period always goes inside the quotation marks. This is true for both single and double quotation marks, regardless of whether the sentence is a statement, question, or exclamation. Knowing the grammar rules for quotes can help ensure that your writing is correct and properly formatted.
