Anonymous  +  892844 Tue, 08 Sep 09 10:42 PM Hi. How would you use a comma in a sentence with a quotation in the middle? Would you leave it out or keep it in?   For example, would it be:   Liz said, "Everyone's doing a great job" to motivate her students. OR Liz said "Everyone's doing a great job" to motivate her students. OR Liz said, "Everyone's doing a great job," to motivate her students.   In other words, when a quote (that is a complete thought) comes in the middle of a sentence, do you still put a comma right before it? Do you maybe use a comma before and after it, in order to avoid confusion?   Thanks!   Anonymous Commas, Punctuation, Sentences, Students

	Mister Micawber  +  892976 Wed, 09 Sep 09 12:32 AM I'd only use two commas (style 3) if the quote were too large to manage otherwise or if there were semantic confusion; for this case, I think I'd choose: Liz said "Everyone's doing a great job" to motivate her students. Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,825 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.' Commas, Punctuation, Students, Semantics, Styles

	Mister Micawber  +  893256 Wed, 09 Sep 09 05:42 AM I put them outside because they look ridiculous within.  Nevertheless, some style guides, particularly British ones, insist that the comma be placed inside. However, consistency would not be an issue between how you deal with sentential quotations and how you deal with single-word emphases (those are not quotes you have presented-- they are just words qua words). Mister Micawber Commas, Punctuation, Styles

	ferdis  +  893532 Wed, 09 Sep 09 09:48 AM Anonymous “ He would not use the words "mix," "dilute," and "combine" in the sentence but would rather use the word "mixing." ” When you are writing about words, use either italics or single quotes.   He would not use the words 'mix', 'dilute', and 'combine' in the sentence but would rather use the word 'mixing'.   He would not use the words mix, dilute, and combine in the sentence but would rather use the word mixing.     ferdis Joined on Tue, Aug 4 2009 The Netherlands Full Member 388 Commas, Punctuation, Sentences

	Mister Micawber  +  893699 Wed, 09 Sep 09 12:38 PM Single quotes are not accepted by some editors or stylists, ferdis, but using italics is a good solution to the problem, thanks. Mister Micawber Commas, Punctuation