1. Punctuating Quotations
Writing Lab
Punctuating Quotations

2. Commas and Periods
When a comma comes before a direct quotation, place it outside of the quotation marks.
John stood up and said, “Today is the day.”
When a comma comes after a direct quotation, it goes inside of the quotation marks.
“When I grow up, I want to be an astronaut,” the toddler said proudly.
Periods always go inside quotations marks.
The dog said “woof.”

3. Semicolons and Colons
Always place semicolons and colons outside of quotation marks.
The graffito on a bathroom wall reads “ESP should be outlawed”; underneath this quote is “I knew you’d say that!”

4. Exclamation Points and Question Marks
Exclamation points and question marks can go inside or outside of quotation marks.
If a quotation is making an exclamation or asking a question, place the exclamation point or question mark inside of the end quotation.
Which philosopher said, “I think; therefore, I am”?
The guard yelled, “Halt!”

5. Quotes within quotes
When a quoting a quote within a quote, use double quotes on the outside quote and single quotes on the inside.
Dr. Feinstein opened his lecture by saying, “Albert Einstein reminded us that ‘Great spirits always receive violent opposition from mediocre minds.’”

6. That’s all, folks!
This lesson is part of the UWF Writing Lab Grammar Mini-Lesson Series
Lessons adapted from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon
To find out more, visit the Writing Lab’s website where you can take a self-scoring quiz corresponding to this lesson