Quote At The End Of A Sentence Punctuation
Quotation marks are used to indicate direct speech or to quote words from a text. They can also be used to enclose titles of short works such as poems, articles, and chapters. However, when it comes to using quotation marks at the end of a sentence, there is often confusion about where the punctuation should go. In this article, we will explore the rules for using quotation marks and punctuation at the end of a sentence.
Use A Comma Before A Quotation Mark
When a quotation is followed by an attribution such as "he said" or "she said," the comma should be placed before the closing quotation mark. For example, "I love pizza," said John. Notice that the comma is placed inside the quotation marks. However, if the attribution comes before the quotation, the comma should be placed after the attribution. For example, John said, "I love pizza."
Use A Period Before A Quotation Mark
If a sentence ends with a quotation, the period should be placed before the closing quotation mark. For example, "I can't believe it's already Friday," said Jane. If the quotation is a question, the question mark should be placed before the closing quotation mark. For example, "Are you coming to the party?" asked Tom.
Use A Colon Before A Quotation
When introducing a quotation that is more than one sentence, use a colon before the quotation. For example, John explained: "I love pizza. It's my favorite food." Notice that the first letter of the quotation is capitalized and there is no comma before the closing quotation mark.
Use An Ellipsis To Indicate Omitted Text
If you need to omit some text from a quotation, use an ellipsis to indicate the omitted text. For example, "To be or not to be...that is the question." Notice that the ellipsis consists of three dots with a space before and after each dot.
Use A Single Quotation Mark For A Quote Within A Quote
If you need to include a quotation within a quotation, use a single quotation mark for the second quotation. For example, John said, "Mary told me, 'I love pizza too.'" Notice that the single quotation mark is placed inside the double quotation marks.
Conclusion
Using quotation marks and punctuation at the end of a sentence can be confusing, but by following these rules, you can ensure that your writing is clear and correct. Remember to use a comma before a quotation mark if it's followed by an attribution, a period before a quotation mark if the sentence ends with a quotation, and a colon before a quotation if the quotation is more than one sentence. Use an ellipsis to indicate omitted text, and use a single quotation mark for a quotation within a quotation.