My blog provides tips for new writers on writing paragraphs, tackling grammar, and designing essays. There are also prompts for creative writers and ideas for tutoring and teaching writing. Enjoy!

Sunday, August 29, 2010

When quoting, where do I put the punctuation?

Oh, this is a tough one. In general, semi-colons and colons go outside the quotation marks while periods and commas go inside the quotation marks. However, when it comes to the final period in a quotation, where you put it completely depends on the situation. If you are quoting from a source for your research paper, you will kick the period outside the quote and after the in-text citation like so:

The study shows, "Over 50% of new writers worry about punctuation" (Prill 37).

(Note: I am completely making up this statistic and source. Don't quote me on that!)

If you are writing a personal reflection piece and happen to quote a family member's famous words at Aunt Betty's wedding, you will not cite a source and the period will stay inside the quotes like so:

At his sister's wedding, my dad shocked the family by announcing "I object to Betty marrying this good-for-nothing couch potato."

No comments: