Do you put a period after a quote that ends in a question mark 2024?
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Sophia Lee
Works at HealthWise Medical, Lives in Toronto, Canada.
As a language expert with a focus on English grammar and punctuation, I'm here to provide clarity on the nuances of punctuation usage, especially in relation to quotations. The question at hand is whether to use a period after a quote that ends in a question mark. This is a common point of confusion, but the rules are quite straightforward once you understand them.
Firstly, it's important to distinguish between two types of punctuation: those that are part of the quoted material and those that are not. When you are quoting a question, the question mark is part of the quoted material itself, and it serves as the terminal punctuation for that question. Therefore, if the quoted question is the final part of your sentence, you do not need to add an additional period at the end of the quote.
However, if the quoted material is not the end of your sentence but is followed by additional commentary or explanation, then you would use a period at the end of the entire sentence. For example, if you were to say, "She asked, 'Is the meeting at 3 p.m.?' and then left the room," the period is used after the entire sentence, not just the quote.
Regarding the use of multiple quotation marks, the rule is to keep the quotation marks together. This means that periods and commas are placed inside both sets of quotation marks when you have a quote within a quote. On the other hand, semicolons, colons, and similar punctuation marks are placed outside of both sets of quotation marks.
Let's look at an example to illustrate this: "He said, 'She asked me, 'What time is the meeting?'' and I told her it was at 3 p.m." In this case, the inner quote is a question, so it ends with a question mark. The outer quote ends with a period, which is part of the outer sentence structure.
It's also worth noting that these rules can vary slightly depending on the style guide you are following. Different style guides, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago, may have specific recommendations for punctuation usage. However, the general principle of not adding an extra period after a quote that ends in a question mark or exclamation point is widely accepted.
In summary, the key is to understand the role of punctuation in relation to the quoted material and the overall sentence structure. Use your judgment and the context to determine the correct placement of periods and other punctuation marks.
Firstly, it's important to distinguish between two types of punctuation: those that are part of the quoted material and those that are not. When you are quoting a question, the question mark is part of the quoted material itself, and it serves as the terminal punctuation for that question. Therefore, if the quoted question is the final part of your sentence, you do not need to add an additional period at the end of the quote.
However, if the quoted material is not the end of your sentence but is followed by additional commentary or explanation, then you would use a period at the end of the entire sentence. For example, if you were to say, "She asked, 'Is the meeting at 3 p.m.?' and then left the room," the period is used after the entire sentence, not just the quote.
Regarding the use of multiple quotation marks, the rule is to keep the quotation marks together. This means that periods and commas are placed inside both sets of quotation marks when you have a quote within a quote. On the other hand, semicolons, colons, and similar punctuation marks are placed outside of both sets of quotation marks.
Let's look at an example to illustrate this: "He said, 'She asked me, 'What time is the meeting?'' and I told her it was at 3 p.m." In this case, the inner quote is a question, so it ends with a question mark. The outer quote ends with a period, which is part of the outer sentence structure.
It's also worth noting that these rules can vary slightly depending on the style guide you are following. Different style guides, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago, may have specific recommendations for punctuation usage. However, the general principle of not adding an extra period after a quote that ends in a question mark or exclamation point is widely accepted.
In summary, the key is to understand the role of punctuation in relation to the quoted material and the overall sentence structure. Use your judgment and the context to determine the correct placement of periods and other punctuation marks.
2024-06-11 00:37:01
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Works at the International Renewable Energy Agency, Lives in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
When a quotation ending in a question mark or exclamation point ends a sentence, no extra period is needed. ... When multiple quotation marks are used for quotations within quotations, keep the quotation marks together (put periods and commas inside both; put semi-colons, colons, etc., outside both).Aug 11, 2011
2023-06-16 08:10:06
Ethan Harris
QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
When a quotation ending in a question mark or exclamation point ends a sentence, no extra period is needed. ... When multiple quotation marks are used for quotations within quotations, keep the quotation marks together (put periods and commas inside both; put semi-colons, colons, etc., outside both).Aug 11, 2011
