Quotation mark

[irmamar]

In my comment about the Thirteen Colonies, I want to quote a sentence of the text. I was taught that I should put the full stop inside the quotation marks in direct speech, but I'm not sure if I have to put it inside or outside in text quotations. Let me explain :

The sentence that I want to quote is:

...to be Free and Independent States;

(as you can see, this sentence has already a punctuation mark that I do not want to use).

My sentence would be:

...declares that the United Colonies have the right "to be Free and Independent States".

The point that I've written is the final of the sentence I wrote.

Although I'm studying American history, I'm writing in British English. I mention it for if there is any difference between them, which I don't know.

Thanks.

[Perikles]

The principle is that if the full stop is an integral part of the quotation, then the full stop remains inside the quotation, and there is no full stop after the quotation mark.

Examples:
1) I think the best line of Shakespeare is "To be, or not to be, that is the question". (no full stop there in the quotation itself)
2) I think the best line of Shakespeare is "O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain."
3) I think the best line of Shakespeare is "O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain.".

What you are quoting above is not actually a sentence, it is a phrase, so it does not have a full stop embedded in it.

Clear?

[Vikingo]

The rules seem a bit messy, and there are differences between American and British styles and usage (in the latter case, also difference in leniency between fiction and non-fiction).

Look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quotation_mark
See the paragraph "Punctuation".

If you're following the British style, though, the period would go outside of the quote in your case.

Take care

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by Vikingo

If you're following the British style, though, the period would go outside of the quote in your case.

If you're following the British style, the full stop would go .....

[Elaina]

Originally Posted by irmamar

In my comment about the Thirteen Colonies, I want to quote a sentence of the text. I was taught that I should put the full stop inside the quotation marks in direct speech, but I'm not sure if I have to put it inside or outside in text quotations. Let me explain :

The sentence that I want to quote is:

...to be Free and Independent States;

(as you can see, this sentence has already a punctuation mark that I do not want to use).

My sentence would be:

...declares that the United Colonies have the right "to be Free and Independent States".

The point that I've written is the final of the sentence I wrote.

Although I'm studying American history, I'm writing in British English. I mention it for if there is any difference between them, which I don't know.

Thanks.

Wouldn't the quote be written like this ....

...declares that the United Colonies have the right to "be Free and Independent States".

[Perikles]

I think that is what I said, but Irma was asking specifically about BrE punctuation (which is why I answered).

[irmamar]

It's clear now (like in Spanish ). Thank you everybody.