Punctuation with Quotation Marks
In American (and often Canadian) usage, commas and periods always go inside quotation marks, but other punctuation marks, such as question marks and exclamation points, go inside only if they apply to the quoted text. In British (and often Australian) usage, all punctuation marks, including commas and periods, go inside only if they are meant to punctuate the text inside quotes.
A quick note on the use of quotation marks in US and UK styles: double quotes are preferred in US style, and single quotes in British (except British news copy, where double quotes are generally used to enclose text).
Commas and periods
In American and Canadian style, a period or a comma always appears before a closing quotation mark, regardless of whether it applies to the quoted text or the surrounding sentence.
- “I love this story,” she said.
- “I think,” she said, “I love this one the most.”
- If you call it “truth,” will it become true?
- I like the word “pareidolia,” though I don’t know what it means.
- She said, “I love this story.”
- They call this “truth.”
- She used the word “pareidolia.”
This advice is in line with that offered by American style manuals such as the AP Stylebook, Chicago Manual of Style, APA Publication Manual, and MLA Handbook, as well as the style guide of the Canadian Government.
In British and Australian style, a comma goes inside quotation marks (or inverted commas) only if it is meant to punctuate the quoted text. If it applies to the larger sentence, it appears outside quotes.
- ‘I think we need another chance,’ he said.
The comma replaces the period that would have appeared at the end of the quote. Thus, it punctuates the quoted text and appears before the closing quote-mark.
- If you call it ‘truth’, will it become true?
The comma isn’t punctuating the text inside quotes, so it goes outside.
- I like the word ‘pareidolia’, though I don’t know what it means.
Similarly, a period (also called a full stop) appears inside quotation marks only if it is meant to end a sentence within quotes. If it ends the surrounding sentence, place it outside quotes.
- He said, ‘We need another chance.’
- They call this ‘truth’.
- He used the word ‘pareidolia’.
This is in line with advice offered by the British New Oxford Style Manual and Oxford University Press house style, as well as the style manual of the Australian Government.
Also see this article on the use of commas with quotation marks in British and American styles, with more examples on how to punctuate direct speech.
Question marks and exclamation points
Place a question mark or exclamation point inside quotation marks if the quoted text is a question or an exclamation, but outside if the larger sentence is the question or exclamation instead.
- “What is that?” she said.
- Lulu asked, “What is that?”
- Questions like “Why are we here?” don’t really matter.
- “It’s a ship!” she cried.
- He shouted, “Run!”
- He shouted, “Danger!” but nobody looked up.
- Didn’t she say it was “slightly orange” and “vaguely blue”? You said he was “the devil in disguise”!
This guidance applies regardless of whether you follow British, American, Canadian, or Australian style.
For more examples and guidance, including how to use question marks and exclamation points together, see this article on question marks and exclamation points with quotation marks.