1. PUNCTUATING QUOTATIONS MINI-LESSON #83 Created April 2012

2. COMMAS AND PERIODS  When a comma comes before a direct quotation, place it outside of the quotation marks.  John stood up and said, “Today is the day.”  When a comma comes after a direct quotation, it goes inside of the quotation marks.  “When I grow up, I want to be an astronaut, ” the toddler said proudly.  Periods always go inside quotations marks.  The dog said “woof. ”

3. SEMICOLONS AND COLONS  Always place semicolons and colons outside of quotation marks.  The graffito on a bathroom wall reads “ESP should be outlawed”; underneath this quote is “I knew you’d say that!”

4. EXCLAMATION POINTS AND QUESTION MARKS  Exclamation points and question marks can go inside or outside of quotation marks.  If a quotation is making an exclamation or asking a question, place the exclamation point or question mark inside of the end quotation.  Which philosopher said, “I think; therefore, I am”?  The guard yelled, “Halt!”

5. QUOTES WITHIN QUOTES  When a quoting a quote within a quote, use double quotes on the outside quote and single quotes on the inside.  Dr. Feinstein opened his lecture by saying, “Albert Einstein reminded us that ‘Great spirits always receive violent opposition from mediocre minds.’”