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 :thinking: :

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. :thinking:

Thanks. :)

[Perikles]

The principle is that if the full stop :rolleyes: 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". :good: (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." :good:
3) I think the best line of Shakespeare is "O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain.". :bad::bad:

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]

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 .....:rolleyes: :D

[Elaina]

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 :thinking: :

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. :thinking:

Thanks. :)

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

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

:twocents:

[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 :D ). Thank you everybody. :thumbsup: :)