Anonymous  +  950917 Fri, 23 Oct 09 09:46 PM When a word ends in an apostrophe, example: askin' -- does the period go before or after the apostrophe? AND what is a quotation mark ends the sentence? Example: "...without even askin'."   Anonymous

	Grammar Geek  +  950957 Fri, 23 Oct 09 10:47 PM When you are using an apostrophe to stand in for a dropped letter in dialogue, let nothing separate it from the preceding letter.   It's free fer the askin'.   Bobbie-Jo complained, "She took my new yeller blouse without even askin'!"   Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,652 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! Dialects, Punctuation, Apostrophes

	Grammar Geek  +  951114 Sat, 24 Oct 09 02:42 AM You may find reference in books aimed specifically at fiction writers or screenplay writers. It's not the sort of thing covered in technical writing classes, though, "fer sher!" Grammar Geek Dialects, References, Business, Career, Classes