Punctuation question

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Nov 7, 2004 | 04:07 PM

ivanribic

Thread Starter

Post Fiend

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 11,945

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From: Spokane, WA

Punctuation question

I'm sure Dennis or someone here will have an answer . . . this is driving me crazy. When you use quotation marks do they go before or after your period or other punctuation ending the senctence?

For instance, which would be correct here?
1. Ivan's motto is "bigger is better".
2. Ivan's motto is "bigger is better."

This always confuses me. It would seem that the punctuation should come after the quotation marks because it ends the sentence but it just doesn't look right for some reason.

Last edited by ivanribic; Nov 7, 2004 at 04:15 PM.

Nov 7, 2004 | 04:20 PM

bigrigfixer

The Pacifier

Joined: Jan 2003

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From: Cloverdale, BC

As far as I can remember, I recall being taught that the quotation marks go after the period. Anything else just doesn't "look right."

Nov 7, 2004 | 04:25 PM

triton_2002

Postmaster

Joined: Aug 2003

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From: South Texas

Yeah, that's what I remember from school. The the entire sentence including punctuation should be inside the quotation marks.

Nov 7, 2004 | 04:40 PM

Fordlover55

Still kicking!!

Joined: May 2003

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From: Kalispell, Mt.

If you are simply "quoting Big Bill", then it should be thataway.

If you have a "quote at the end of the sentence". It is like that. The period is outside the quotes.

If you make a statement in quotation - " I like my Ford trucks! " - the period or exclamation mark goes inside the quote.

Question answered?

Nov 7, 2004 | 04:47 PM

Rocky J

Elder User

Joined: Sep 2004

Posts: 538

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From: Florida

In the first post, number 1 is correct. Punctuation within the quotation marks doesn't apply to the sentence started before the quotation marks. So example number two still doesn't have any puntuation to end the sentence.

Have you heard of the quote "Bigger is Better"?

Nov 7, 2004 | 04:53 PM