Where do periods and commas go when I use quotation marks?
This is something people ask me often, probably because we are exposed to so much news and information each day coming from different areas of the world.
As I’ve mentioned before, in the United States, we put our periods and commas inside the quotation marks. Here are a few examples for you:
· Sandra said, “No. I will not pick your sister up at the airport.”
· “Yes,” said Victor, “I love to ski!”
· “Barnaby,” whispered Simone, “Will you take my hand and dance with me?”
In Britain, it is the other way around, and the periods and commas come after the quotation marks:
· Mrs. Gunderson said, “Yes, I’d love to”.
· “No”, said Herbert, “I will not follow you”.
As most of us reading this are here in the United States, we editors expect you to use the periods and commas within the quotation marks while writing prose.
Kara Church
Technical Editor, Advisory
619-542-6773 | Ext: 766773
Symitar Documentation Services
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