grammar question

[RB_Kandy]

I have question about proper use of the period.
It concerns placing a period before and after a quotation mark.
Example:
John Wayne pulls back his trench coat to reveal is six shooter and says sternly "I wouldn't do that if I were you.". The cowboys decide to get back on their stage coach.

In that example, I use a period to end John Wayne's statement. But because his statement is part of a sentence, I end the sentence after the closing quotation mark. Is that proper grammar?

 

[trampledamage]

Two periods definitely isn't correct. I think it's the American style to put the period outside the quotation mark,

 

[B.J.]

I was always taught to put it inside the quotation.

 

[Valin]

I was always taught to put it inside the quotation.

Yes, you are correct.

 

[CorporalClegg]

In the US the period goes inside the quotation marks. Other countries it generally goes outside.

 

[RevdKathy]

Depends where the sentence ends. If the speaker finishes your sentence, put it inside. As a general rule inside is better in UK English. But if it's not actually a quoted sentence, outside makes more sense.

The poster admitted "I am an Idiot."

The response of other posters was "so true".

 

[auntiehill]

I have question about proper use of the period.
It concerns placing a period before and after a quotation mark.
Example:
John Wayne pulls back his trench coat to reveal is six shooter and says sternly "I wouldn't do that if I were you.". The cowboys decide to get back on their stage coach.

In that example, I use a period to end John Wayne's statement. But because his statement is part of a sentence, I end the sentence after the closing quotation mark. Is that proper grammar?

John Wayne pulls back his trench coat to reveal his six shooter and says sternly, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

 

[Tiberius]

I have question about proper use of the period.
It concerns placing a period before and after a quotation mark.
Example:
John Wayne pulls back his trench coat to reveal is six shooter and says sternly "I wouldn't do that if I were you.". The cowboys decide to get back on their stage coach.

In that example, I use a period to end John Wayne's statement. But because his statement is part of a sentence, I end the sentence after the closing quotation mark. Is that proper grammar?

If the words in the quote marks are a complete sentence, then the period is inside the quotes.

Captain Picard sat in his chair and said, "Set a course for Starbase three."

If the senetence continues after the speech, then there is no period inside the quotes. The period comes at the end of the whole sentence, and a comma is used at the end of the quotes, and is placed within the quote marks.

As Picard came onto the bridge, he said, "A word with you in my ready room, Number One," indicating the door to his office.

If the words within the quote marks are not speech (and thus are not a complete sentence), then the period is outside the quote marks.

The sign on the door said, "Main Shuttlebay".

However, in this last case it's still acceptable to have the period inside the quote marks.

 

[cooleddie74]

I've put the period inside the last quotation mark ever since I was in high school English, and my teachers always told me it was just fine.

 

[Australis]

I've always been a bit puzzled until I hit upon something. When using the question or exclamation marks, they go inside the quotation, so therefore the period should as well. I also like the elegance of the other examples illustrating why it would go outside.

 

[IndyJones]

My understanding is that - in English - the period is meant to go outside of the quotation marks. Out of convenience, American printers adopted the policy of placing the period inside quotation marks to avoid it getting knocked out of place. So, we changed the format here, but other countries didn't make that change so they still conform to the earlier convention.

 

[Sakrysta]

The way I learned (in the US):

- Periods and commas - always inside
- Colons and semicolons - always outside
- Exclamation and question marks - either depending on what they modify

I never knew there were other rules until after college when the internet introduced me to them.

 

[JiNX-01]

"The period comes before the quotation marks."

 

[J.T.B.]

I'm with Sakrysta, keep commas and periods within quotation marks and you won't go far wrong.

And while I'm at it, punctuation is not generally considered grammar.

Justin

 

[Gryffindorian]

How often does this question come up? Where the period goes depends on which side of the Atlantic you're on. Brits prefer the period outside the quotation mark, like ”this”. Americans put the period inside the quote, like ”this.”

 

[DonIago]

As it's significantly region-dependent, most of the posters above are correct in one way or another, even when they appear in some cases to be contradicting each other.

That said, a double period such as in the OP is not something I believe is ever correct. Making the first period a comma would resolve the problem if there was additional text following the closing quotation. As it is, one of the periods should be removed and it will be "correct" regardless of which one is removed, with different regions emphasizing different standards.

FMI - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quotation_mark#Punctuation

 

[Sakrysta]

^Yeah, two periods is never right.