Placement of the comma is often particularly confusing since you might wonder if the comma goes before the quotation mark, after the quotation mark, inside the quotation mark, or on the outside. If you can keep the following four rules in mind, then you’ll understand why a comma is always placed before quotation marks, and you will always ...
It can be tricky to learn how to punctuate quotation marks correctly. Check out our guide on when to use punctuation inside or outside quotation marks.
Rules for Using Quotation Marks. Quotation marks are punctuation marks used to signify a spoken or quoted phrase. More precisely, quotation marks are used to designate a direct quote—something that’s been said word for word. Example: He said, “I’m going to be a couple minutes late to class today.”
(The yellow comma is correct because the quotation contained its own end punctuation (a period). Clearly, we can't use a period here because that would confuse the reader. So, a comma has replaced the period and has been correctly placed inside the quotation to recognize that the quotation had its own end punctuation.)
Use a comma to introduce a quotation after a standard dialogue tag, a brief introductory phrase, or a dependent clause. The detective said, "I am sure who performed the murder." As D.H. Nachas explains, "The gestures used for greeting others differ greatly from one culture to another."
British publishers tend to put the comma or period after the quotation mark. But the British usually use the narrower, single quotation mark as the primary quotation mark. There is less of an aesthetic penalty to placing a comma or period after a single quotation mark, since the mark of punctuation isn’t stranded as far from the previous word.
Quotation marks and adjacent punctuation. Though not necessarily logical, the American rules for multiple punctuation with quotation marks are firmly established. (See here for a brief explanation of the British style.) Commas and periods that are part of the overall sentence go inside the quotation marks, even though they aren’t part of the ...
The following rules of quotation mark use are the standard in the United States, although it may be of interest that usage rules for this punctuation do vary in other countries. The following covers the basic use of quotation marks. For details and exceptions consult the separate sections of this guide. Direct Quotations
In British English, you can choose where the comma goes. British style guides allow commas after quotation marks. It’s acceptable to write: “I’m going to the store”, said my sister. The same rules apply to both double quotation marks and single quotation marks.
Here’s a quick guide to using quotation marks. But before we proceed, note that these punctuation rules follow the Standard American English which occasionally differs from British English. Use Quotation Marks Properly 1. Use quotation marks before and after a direct quotation. Quoting directly means writing the exact words a person said.
The closing quote should be placed directly after the comma beside the word backpack. Think of quotes as existing in pairs. If you start a quote, it needs to be followed by its buddy. ... there are a few additional quotation mark rules. 3 of the most common quotation mark rules you need to know. 1. Using quotes within quotes. This was already ...
Quotation marks are used to identify previously spoken or written words, to highlight the name of ships, plays, and books, to signify so-called, and to show that a word refers to the word itself not the word's meaning. ... punctuation is expected after an introduction for a quotation. The rules (below) are quite lax, and they overlap, giving ...
Single Quotation Marks Rule #10 Single quotation marks are used when there is a quote inside a quote. If the single quotation mark comes at the end of a quotation, add a space between the single and double quotation marks. Examples: “The trial was considered a ‘failure’because it did not have the intended result”(Depp 2014).
The MLA Handbook notes, “By convention, commas and periods that directly follow quotations go inside the closing quotation marks” (267). Thus, in the following sentence, the comma is placed after taught: “You’ve got to be carefully taught,” wrote Oscar Hammerstein II. The rule is the same for a list of titles: Julio Cortázar wrote many short stories, …
Is someone speaking in your writing? Are you citing a book or a film? Then we see quotation marks in your future. Learn how to use them correctly in your writing here.
In American English, the punctuation marks are often placed inside the closing quotation mark regardless of whether they belong to the quoted material or the surrounding sentence. Double vs Single Quotation Marks. As mentioned above, in British English, single quotation marks are generally preferred for enclosing direct speech, quotations, and ...
Yes, commas typically go inside quotation marks in a sentence in American English.. Commas with quotation marks in American English examples Critics said the book was “gripping,” “powerfully written,” and “emotional.” “Don’t go without me,” Brett said. Note, though, that when there’s an introductory phrase before a quotation, the comma goes before the opening quotation marks.
The digital edition revises advice about punctuation used with quotation marks. It departs from advice in the sixth edition about the position of punctuation and quotation marks in sentences interrupted by expressions, such as ‘they said’. The sixth edition recommended the comma be placed outside the quotation mark, before the expression.
