A few questions about quotations

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LiquidMidnight

#46050 Fri, 17 Sep 04 07:23 PM

This is my first post, and I just want to say that this place seems like an excellent resource. Smile [:)]

I have a few questions regarding the rules of quotations.

1. If you seperate an introductory phrase/clause from the rest of the sentence by referencing the person being quoted in the middle, do you capitalize the the first word in the second set of quotes?

For example, the sentence: "Well, the thing is," said John, "we won't be going there now." If I were to write that, should I capitalize "we"?

2. I know that if you state the subject after a quote, the comma should go inside the last quotation mark unless there is a question mark or exlamation point. My question is what do you do if it's a complete sentence that should end with the period. i.e. "He was a great man," said John. Should I place a period inside; omit the period and only put the comma; or omit the comma and only put the period?

Thank you for your help.

LiquidMidnight

Joined on Fri, Sep 17 2004

New Member (13)

Clauses, Commas, Question marks, Quotation marks

Mister Micawber

#46103 Sat, 18 Sep 04 02:18 AM

Hi LM, welcome to Englishforums.

(1) No, don't capitalize; the sentence is continuing. If it were two sentences, it might look like this:

"Well, the thing is obvious," said John. "We won't be going there now."

Quotation marks and other punctuation don't mix very well, do they? To me, it's often a cosmetic question-- which way seems to show most clearly the association between parts?

(2) "He was a great man," said John.-- this is correct as it stands. Consider it one sentence, not completed until 'John'. Or consider that two periods will confuse the reader into thinking 'said John' is a sentence.

It also varies somewhat between Englishes and authorities. Try this link for more detail: WEBSTER'S.

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (21,223)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

Grammar, Punctuation, Quotation marks

redkiddy

#46460 Mon, 20 Sep 04 05:54 PM

You have said "don't capitalize"
but in your sentences you capitalized "we"
confused.........

redkiddy

Joined on Mon, May 17 2004

TURKLAND

Full Member (187)

the biggest football team of all times "FENERBAHCE"

Mister Micawber

#46510 Mon, 20 Sep 04 11:40 PM

Hi RK,

Please read my post carefully. I said, 'if it were two sentences' and then gave you an example of the two-sentence case, where 'we' would be capitalized as the beginning of the second sentence.

Hope this helps.