horizon981  +  831889 Fri, 24 Jul 09 01:17 PM If someone quotes a rather long sentence, where should the period go? As in: The President clearly said that "...there will not be any further talks on this issue unless a consensus is arrived at". <-- Position of this period? horizon981 Joined on Mon, Jul 13 2009 New Member 17 Quotation Marks, Sentences

	Mister Micawber  +  831905 Fri, 24 Jul 09 01:58 PM British style guides require the period inside; American style guides require the period in the location that relates to the actual stop (i.e., inside if it is part of Obama's speech and outside if it is a part of the matrix sentence.) Or I may have those guidelines reversed.  Anyway, I use the latter. Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,822 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.' Sentences, Countries, United States, Speaking, American, Speeches, Styles

	horizon981  +  831939 Fri, 24 Jul 09 03:37 PM If we go the American way, and further suppose that the President's sentence didn't end there, is this correct? The President clearly said that "...there will not be any further talks on this issue unless a consensus is arrived at.." <-- Ellipsis + Period horizon981 Sentences, Countries, United States, American

	Mister Micawber  +  832242 Fri, 24 Jul 09 11:31 PM Ellipsis + period is 4 dots, but if the sentence does not end, I would put the period outside.  Still, I think that most editors would eliminate both ellipses as unnecessary. Mister Micawber Sentences

	CalifJim  +  832258 Fri, 24 Jul 09 11:45 PM arrived at".   - British style. arrived at."   - American style. In personal writing I believe either style is fine.  Wait until you publish something, and then follow the style recommended by the publisher. CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,447 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Countries, United States, American, Styles

	Mr Wordy  +  832293 Sat, 25 Jul 09 12:14 AM When I looked at this last time, I think I found that the style in several national British newspapers (at least) is to put the period inside if the quote that ends the sentence is a complete sentence in itself, otherwise outside. Your example seems like a complete sentence, so the period would go inside. On the other hand, in the following, the period would go outside:   The president called it a "disaster".   How far this reflects a consistent "British" style I'm not sure. Mr Wordy Joined on Tue, May 27 2008 Senior Member 2,359 Native British English speaker Sentences, Styles