Ending A Sentence With A Quote Punctuation
Quotation marks are used to indicate the exact words someone else said or wrote. They are typically used in dialogue, quotes, and titles of short works. But what happens when the quote comes at the end of a sentence? How should the punctuation be handled? This article will explore the different ways to use punctuation at the end of a sentence with a quote.
Periods and Commas
If the quoted material is a full sentence, the period or comma should be placed inside the quotation marks. For example:
"I love pizza," she said.
However, if the quoted material is not a complete sentence, the period or comma should be placed outside the quotation marks. For example:
"Do you want to go to the movies tonight?" he asked.
Question Marks and Exclamation Points
If the quoted material is a question or an exclamation, the question mark or exclamation point should be placed inside the quotation marks. For example:
"What time is it?" she asked.
"I can't believe it!" he exclaimed.
Multiple Sentences
If the quoted material consists of multiple sentences, each sentence should end with its own punctuation mark. The final sentence should end with a period inside the quotation marks. For example:
"I went to the store," she said. "Then I went to the bank. Finally, I went home."
Interrupted Quotes
When a quote is interrupted by another sentence, the punctuation should be placed according to the rules above. For example:
"I can't believe," he said, "that we lost the game."
Summary
When ending a sentence with a quote, the punctuation should be placed inside the quotation marks if the quoted material is a full sentence. If the quoted material is not a complete sentence, the period or comma should be placed outside the quotation marks. Question marks and exclamation points should be placed inside the quotation marks if they are part of the quoted material. If the quoted material consists of multiple sentences, each sentence should end with its own punctuation mark. Finally, when a quote is interrupted by another sentence, the punctuation should be placed according to the rules above.
Meta Description:
Learn how to properly use punctuation when ending a sentence with a quote. This article explains the rules for periods, commas, question marks, and exclamation points.
Meta Keywords:
quotation marks, punctuation, ending a sentence, periods, commas, question marks, exclamation points, interrupted quotes