 John the OFM  | 02 Dec 2009 10:28 a.m. PST |
I am asking a question, and the question is a quote. Here is an example:
Is this a case of "If you have to ask, you can't afford it"?
Did I punctuate this correctly? I am puzzled by the end of the … thing. Within quotes is a complete declarative sentence, yet I am asking a question. Putting a period within quotes looks awkward. |
aecurtis  | 02 Dec 2009 10:42 a.m. PST |
When the whole sentence except for the section enclosed in quotation marks is a question or exclamation, the question or exclamation mark goes outside the quotation mark. - Which British writer wrote, "Ask not for whom the bell tolls"? When only the unit in quotation marks is a question or exclamation, the mark goes inside the closing quotation mark. - The mediator asked, "What have you learned from this experience?" When both the whole sentence and the unit enclosed in quotation marks are questions or exclamations, the question or exclamation mark goes inside the closing quotation mark. - What does Joseph Campbell believe happens when you "Follow your bliss?" When using a parenthetical reference with a quote that ends in an exclamation point or question mark, keep the original punctuation inside the quotation and place a period after the parenthetical reference. - Kurt Koffka, a Gestalt psychologist, asked "Why do humans see their minds in terms of elementary parts?" (Gray 74). link |
| jpattern2 | 02 Dec 2009 11:21 a.m. PST |
Allen nailed it. And you correctly omitted the comma after "of". |
| Jovian1 | 02 Dec 2009 12:35 p.m. PST |
Allen has it spot on – at least according to all of the books I've read on the topic. Ugh – I hated reading them too. |
| Connard Sage | 02 Dec 2009 12:45 p.m. PST |
Except that Allen didn't really answer the )FM's question. Which was, if I read it correctly, "should there be a full stop (a period, for you colonials) after the statement in inverted commas or not?" i.e. Is this a case of "If you have to ask, you can't afford it."? or is Is this a case of "If you have to ask, you can't afford it"? correct? |
| aecurtis | 02 Dec 2009 12:51 p.m. PST |
Part I: When the whole sentence except for the section enclosed in quotation marks is a question or exclamation, the question or exclamation mark goes outside the quotation mark. - Which British writer wrote, "Ask not for whom the bell tolls"? As indicated, there is no full stop inside the quotation marks. Allen |
| Connard Sage | 02 Dec 2009 12:54 p.m. PST |
With which I concur, but you didn't make it very clear that it was the answer to the question posed. He's laughing at us, you do realise that? :) |
| The Tin Dictator | 02 Dec 2009 1:17 p.m. PST |
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| aecurtis | 02 Dec 2009 4:07 p.m. PST |
He's laughing at *one* of us… |
| mweaver | 02 Dec 2009 5:04 p.m. PST |
"Quote" is a verb; "quotation" is the noun (we all have our grammatical axes to grind). |
| John the OFM | 02 Dec 2009 7:07 p.m. PST |
I been laughin at noone. I was at work, selling Comcast to the toffs in Clarks Summit. |
| aecurtis | 02 Dec 2009 7:13 p.m. PST |
Main Entry: 2quote
Function: noun
Date: 1888
1 : quotation
2 : quotation mark —often used orally to indicate the beginning of a direct quotation link Usage changes. In this case, usage changed over 120 years ago… |
| mweaver | 02 Dec 2009 8:58 p.m. PST |
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