Understanding the Rules: Quotation Marks and Punctuation

It is a common misconception that the rules governing the placement of commas and periods within quotation marks are matters of varying grammar. In reality, these conventions are deeply rooted in stylistic guidelines established by various publishing houses and news organizations over the years. This article elucidates the nuances and provides clarity on the placement of punctuation marks inside and outside quotation marks.

The Evolution of Style Guides

The first widely recognized stylebook in the United States was created during the Civil War by the Associated Press (AP). This stylebook was designed to standardize the appearance of articles published in AP's member newspapers, all of which were in states that did not secede. Prior to this, each newspaper had its own stylebook, leading to inconsistencies and confusion in the reprinted articles. The AP's stylebook quickly became the de facto standard, adopted by many newspapers for their stories. Over time, other stylebooks emerged to cater to specific industries and purposes, leading to the diversity of punctuation practices in contemporary English writing.

A Standard Convention: The Rule of Placement

The fundamental rule for placing punctuation marks within or outside quotation marks is that punctuation forms part of the quote if it is explicitly included within the quote. Otherwise, these marks are considered structural elements of the surrounding sentence and are placed outside the quotation marks. This principle is best understood when broken down into specific scenarios:

Scenario 1: Complete Sentences Within Quotes

If the quoted material is a complete sentence or contains the end of a sentence, with no additional text beyond the quotation, the punctuation should be placed inside the quotation marks. For instance, in the phrase 'She said, "The sky is blue."', the comma and period are included within the quotation marks because they are part of the exact words spoken.

Scenario 2: Punctuation for Internal Speech

In cases where the quoted speech includes internal pauses or specific punctuation marks that are part of the speech, these marks also go inside the quotation marks. For example: "‘Tis some visitor” I muttered “tapping at my chamber door - only this and nothing more.” Here, the commas and dash are part of the direct speech and should be included within the quotation marks.

Scenario 3: Punctuation for the Parent Sentence

Punctuation such as commas and periods that belong to the sentence containing the quote, and not the quote itself, should be placed outside the quotation marks. For example, the sentence: "He said, ‘The sky is blue,’ and then continued her journey." The comma after "blue" and the period after "journey" are not part of the quote and thus remain outside the quotation marks.

Scenario 4: Handling Unpunctuated Quotes

If the quoted text does not naturally end with a punctuation mark such as a period or a question mark, it is the responsibility of the writer to add the necessary punctuation outside the quotation marks. For instance: "The professor stated, 'The theory explains many phenomena,' without further elaboration." Here, the comma and period are added outside the quotation marks since they are needed to complete the sentence.

Conclusion

In the realm of English writing, the placement of commas and periods within or outside quotation marks is governed by stylistic guidelines rather than strict grammatical rules. While the basic principle is to include these marks if they are part of the quoted text, there are nuanced exceptions. Understanding these nuances not only adheres to the conventions of written communication but also ensures consistency across various publications and industries.