Place colons and semicolons outside closed quotation marks. Place a question mark or exclamation point within closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the quotation itself. Place the punctuation outside the closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the whole sentence.
How do you use a colon in a quote?
Rule 1: Complete sentence: “quotation.” (If you use a complete sentence to introduce a quotation, use a colon (:) just before the quotation.) Rule 2: Someone says, “quotation.” (If the word just before the quotation is a verb indicating someone uttering the quoted words, use a comma.
Do quotes go inside or outside colon?
Punctuating Around Quotation Marks
| Punctuation mark | In relation to closing quotation mark, place it… |
|---|---|
| Colon | Outside |
| Question mark or exclamation point (part of quoted material) | Inside |
| Question mark or exclamation point (not part of quoted material) | Outside |
| Quotation within a quotation + period or comma | Inside |
When should punctuation be outside of quotation marks?
Overall, you can stick to this basic rule: question marks and exclamation points go inside quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted matter. If they punctuate the sentence as a whole, they go outside of the quotation marks.
Do I need a colon before a quote?
You can use a colon before a quotation when the quotation is at least one sentence. Having a quotation that is a full sentence (or more) is far more common than having an introduction that is an independent clause. (The colon is justified because the quotation is two sentences.) When I asked him, he shouted: “nope!”
Do you use a colon after the word following?
A colon is normally used after as follows, the following, and similar expressions. The steps are as follows: first, put a vest on; second, grab a rope and jump in; third, put the ski on; fourth, hold on!
Where do periods go in quotes?
Quotation marks and other punctuation marks In the United States, the rule of thumb is that commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks, and colons and semicolons (dashes as well) go outside: “There was a storm last night,” Paul said.
Is it okay to put a period after a quote?
1. The final period or comma goes inside the quotation marks, even if it is not a part of the quoted material, unless the quotation is followed by a citation. If a citation in parentheses follows the quotation, the period follows the citation.
Do punctuation marks go inside quotes?
Do commas and periods go inside or outside quotation marks? Commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks in American English; dashes, colons, and semicolons almost always go outside the quotation marks; question marks and exclamation marks sometimes go inside, sometimes stay outside.
Does a colon Go before a quote?
The quotation marks indicate that what is within them is that which is being quoted. The purpose of a colon in this case is to indicate that something follows – in this case a quotation. Colons are not always followed by quotations, and are thus not part of a quotation where it occurs.
Can you use a colon to introduce a quote?
If you use a complete sentence to introduce a quotation, you need a colon after the sentence. Use an introductory or explanatory phrase, but not a complete sentence, separated from the quotation with a comma. Make the quotation a part of your own sentence without any punctuation between your own words and the words you are quoting.
Do quotation marks go before or after a colon?
Put a comma before a full quote. Whenever you use quotation marks around a full quote, place a comma or a colon before the first, or open, quotation mark. The comma or colon does not go in the quotation mark, just before it. This will let the reader know a quote is coming.
How to list things after a colon?
When listing items one by one, one per line, following a colon, capitalization and ending punctuation are optional when using single words or phrases preceded by letters, numbers, or bullet points. If each point is a complete sentence, capitalize the first word and end the sentence with appropriate ending punctuation.
