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When quoting, it is important to remember that periods and commas are placed
within the quotation mark.
“Basic skills learned in elementary school are vital.”
“Basic skills learned in elementary school are vital,” researchers argued.
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However, colons and semicolons go outside of the quotation marks.
In elementary school, we learn “basic skills”: reading, writing, and math.
Here, the words “basic skills” are being emphasized and go in the double quotation marks. Since
the mark is a colon, it is placed outside the quotation marks.
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Other forms of punctuation such as dashes (—), question marks (?), and exclama-
tion points (!) go inside the quotation marks ONLY if they are part of the quote.
Do not use any other punctuation within the quote after that mark.
Incorrect: “Leave now!,” Jessica yelled.
(You do not need two forms of punctuation within the quotation marks.)
Correct: “Leave now!” Jessica yelled.
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If the dash, question mark, or exclamation point is not part of the quote, place it
on the outside of the quotation marks.
I cannot believe that woman called me an “idiot”!
Who wrote “Wuthering Heights”?
Use quotation marks around titles of works that are published within other works,
such as chapter titles of books, articles in periodicals, and essays within other
works. All punctuation must be enclosed within the quotation marks. Single quota-
tion marks are used for a quotation within the quoted title.
A song: An essay: A short poem:
“America the Beautiful” “Dismantling ‘The Master’s House’” “Annabel Lee”
An article in a periodical: A short story: An episode of a TV/radio show:
“War on the Home Front” “The Gilded Six-Bits” “Boy, Girl, Boy, Girl”
An page on a website: A Subdivision of a book:
“Travel Warnings” “The Mystery” (Chapter 27 of Clotel)