Yoong Liat  +  294165 Fri, 17 Nov 06 10:04 AM The word is "clever." The word is "clever". Which is the correct way to punctuate the above sentence? Do the British and the Americans punctuate differently with regard to the above? Yoong Liat Regards, Quotation Marks

	Best answer by Grammar Geek  +  459973 Thu, 03 Jan 08 06:56 PM Hi Anon, Your answer is spot on. However, perhaps there are some more recent threads, in which the issue was not fully resolved a year ago, that you'd like to contribute your knowledge to?   Grammar Geek

	Mister Micawber  +  294214 Fri, 17 Nov 06 11:08 AM Yes.  BrE encloses the period; AmE places it outside.  That is probably a slight generalization, as style manuals may vary (and I place the period outside). Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,842 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.' Quotation Marks

	Yoong Liat  +  294226 Fri, 17 Nov 06 11:32 AM  Mister Micawber wrote: Yes.  BrE encloses the period; AmE places it outside.  That is probably a slight generalization, as style manuals may vary (and I place the period outside).  AmE places the quotation marks outside. I think the AmE way is more logical. Yoong Liat Quotation Marks

	Marius Hancu  +  294237 Fri, 17 Nov 06 12:03 PM  Yoong Liat wrote: AmE places the quotation marks outside. I think the AmE way is more logical. I don't think the same way, but I will comply. Marius Hancu Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006 Veteran Member 11,673 Quotation Marks

	Yoong Liat  +  294407 Fri, 17 Nov 06 06:06 PM  Marius Hancu wrote:  Yoong Liat wrote: AmE places the quotation marks outside. I think the AmE way is more logical. I don't think the same way, but I will comply. On second thoughts, it is the other way round. AmE places the full stop inside the quotation marks.  The word is "clever." Yoong Liat Quotation Marks

	J Lewis  +  294429 Fri, 17 Nov 06 07:01 PM I beg to differ. In Yoong Liat's example, "clever" is a word quoted within the sentence, so the quotes close before the full stop. If you're quoting a complete sentence, the full stop comes within the quotes. "I am clever." The word is "clever". In my opinion, if you put the full stop always inside the quotes, or always outside, you're over-simplifying the rule, whether in AmE or BrE. J Lewis Joined on Tue, Sep 5 2006 Italy Regular Member 518 Quotation Marks, Quoting

	Inchoateknowledge  +  294448 Fri, 17 Nov 06 07:13 PM Hi J Lewis, "If you're quoting a complete sentence, the full stop comes within the quotes.If you're quoting a complete sentence, the full stop comes within the quotes." Not always. Compare: In the words of J Lewis, "If you're quoting a complete sentence, the full stop comes within the quotes.If you're quoting a complete sentence, the full stop comes within the quotes".    "If you're quoting a complete sentence, the full stop comes within the quotes.If you're quoting a complete sentence, the full stop comes within the quotes."     Inchoateknowledge Joined on Wed, May 3 2006 Senior Member 2,549 Beep! Beep! :) Quotation Marks, Quoting

	Grammar Geek  +  294628 Sat, 18 Nov 06 04:30 AM As Mr. M says, it's a matter of style. American style, for better for for worse (and most would agree it is often for the worse) is to ALWAYS place the period/full stop inside the quote marks. I am the one who had never heard of an ergative verb before I came to this site, but I'm also the one who edits business writing all the time. If you want me to find all the citations in the AP Style Book, the Chicago Manual of Styles, etc., I will, but really, truly... American English puts the quote on the outside. The word you are now thinking is "ridiculous." Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,683 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! American English, Verbs, Quotation Marks