Does the period go in the brackets? Anita studies marine mammals (like whales, dolphins, and seals). We often have our hands full dealing with just a single colon, semicolon, orheaven forbida comma. Because the colon and question mark are part of the quotes, theyre included inside the quotation marks. It can be difficult to remember these rules, but with a bit of practice, you should be able to master them. DO use a period if you contain a complete parenthetical sentence in parenthesis between two complete sentences. The period is placed BEFORE the closing parenthesis. Bart continued: Texas, with a history of rugged individualism, was part of the "Sagebrush rebellion". I would expect your grammar book to say that terminal punctuation always goes inside the quotation marks (assuming "American-style" quoting, at least), but not to say the same of parentheses. 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 the parenthetical expression ends the sentence, add a period after the parentheses to end the sentence (unlike the double period rule). (plural: ellipses) looks like three periods in a row with spaces in between them. If parenthetically enclosed words end a . How do you end a sentence with a quote? Q: Are there any exceptions to this rule? (The only exception was the local BBQ stand.) How does the period inside or outside parentheses differ? Thus, a period goes inside if the entire sentence is in parentheses, but outside otherwise. Yes! For example: Abbreviations for specific time periods often use periods, including abbreviated months (, Abbreviations for metric units of measures do not use a period (cm, kg). Place other punctuation (colons, semi-colons, question marks, etc.). Note that I wrote these sentences as examples of the rules they describe (in the first, the clause is dependent; in the second, it's independent.) The handbook provides the following examples: this one). There are some situations where it might be tempting to useparenthesesto cover part of one sentence and the entirety of the next sentence. Several other courses were offered, but they were not as popular. For example: (How about Sunday?). The athletes competed in biking, running, and swimming. A period, also known as a full stop in British English, is a. mark that looks like a tiny circle or dot. Inside quotation marks. Theyre also placed at the end of abbreviated words within a sentence. Quotation marks go inside parentheses if the quoted text is contained entirely within parentheses. In most cases, it is best to leave the period outside the parentheses so that the text is easy to read and understand. If youre not watching Charlie, who is? British English: At different times, he described the job as tough, fulfilling, and fun. You have been successfully subscribed to the Grammarly blog. (question . If you quote this article, you must link back to this page. 1) Outside the quotation marks: colons, semicolons, and dashes. She replied, Please call me if you have any questions (but only between 7:03 and 7:11 p.m. on Wednesdays).. In general, periods should be placed outside parentheses when they are part of a larger sentence, and inside parentheses when they are not. a quote that ends in a question mark or exclamation mark, a proper noun that ends in a question mark or exclamation mark, When writers get confused about periods, its usually because they arent sure where to put them in relation to other nearby punctuation, in particular. It looks like a tiny circle or dot at the bottom of a written line. For people in the United States, periods and commas go inside the quotation marks. I received a BA with honors in Literary Arts (Playwriting)which gave me the opportunity to study under Pulitzer Prize-winner Paula Vogel. Adelina wanted to become a doctor after watching the anime Cells at Work! Periods Go Outside Parentheses When They Belong to the Sentence The rule is exactly the same when parentheses end the sentence. Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance, https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/grammar/punctuation/does-punctuation-go-inside-quotation-marks.html, https://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2011/08/punctuating-around-quotation-marks.html, https://www.dailywritingtips.com/period-goes-inside-quotation-marks/, https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html, Affidavit Meaning: Heres What It Means and How To Use It, Spouse Meaning: Heres What It Means and How To Use It, Valkyrie Meaning: Heres What It Means and How To Use It, Logic Meaning: Heres What It Means and How To Use It. If you were able to notice how the previous sentence was constructed, which is a compound type, then that means that you've . When writers get confused about periods, its usually because they arent sure where to put them in relation to other nearby punctuation, in particular quotation marks. , a period or full stop has two main purposes: ending a sentence and indicating an omission. The primary function of a period is to signal the end of a sentence. <. Success! Three periods together make a new punctuation mark called an. Period usage may seem easy enough, but there are a few rules that can get confusing, such as where to put periods in quotation marks or how to use them in abbreviations. Example We verified his law degree (Yale, class of 2002), but his work history remains unconfirmed. If the material inside the parentheses is a complete sentence, use a period at the end. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Outside quotation marks*. While I place my periods outside the quotation marks, I'm left feeling haunted by the idea that an American might think I'm the ignorant one since I'm putting periods after closing quotes when the text being quoted is part of the structure of the sentence itself, not a dialogue in a story nor a quotation of a complete sentence. It suggests that the speaker is outraged, excited, or otherwise alarmed about whats going on. If a sentence ends inside parentheses, place the period after the closing square bracket but before the closing parenthesis. There was an error submitting your subscription. Again, the period is strong and governs the main part of the sentence. There are always more correct ways to write your sentences. period) to the store, it would mean that the person is going to the store right now. There are numerous punctuation marks including quotation marks, a question mark, an exclamation point, and even a comma. If the phrase inside the parentheses requires its own punctuation mark(s), because it's an exclamation or a question or a quotation, then the required punctuation should be inside the parentheses and the . Here is one example: The athletes competed in several events (biking, running, and swimming). Additionally, it is important to remember that when you use parentheses for emphasis in writing, less is more and all unnecessary words should be excluded. The rule I put forward is the one I learned in school, and the one I follow myself (when, of course, I'm paying sufficient attention). The period should come after the parentheses. Get a FREE book of writing prompts and learn how to make more money from your writing. If the information in the parentheses is a separate, complete sentence, the period at the end of the sentence goes inside the parentheses. In American English, we use punctuation marks such as periods and commas to signal that a quote is finished. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Grammarist is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. When in doubt, remember that thepunctuation markhas to fall outside theparenthesesif a portion of the sentence is outside theparentheses. If a sentence already has a question mark or exclamation mark, you dont need to add another one inside the parenthetical expression if it contributes to the question or exclamation. Note: The period goes outside the brackets, at the end of your in-text citation. (Several other events were offered to the athletes, but they were not chosen as official events by the students.). In American English, periods are also used to abbreviate formal titles: . If a person uses two or more initials to abbreviate their, Even so, its perfectly acceptable to add a comma, semicolon, or. Periods convey a definitive pause. I felt it was necessary to attend the school board meeting. If youre like most people, you probably dont give much thought to proper nouns. If the period is not used, the sentence is incomplete: Incorrect: I needed to go there (or did I?) The period is one of the most versatile and commonly used punctuation marks. Never put a comma immediately before a closing parenthesis. We're often asked whether to place periods inside or outside closing brackets. @ShreevatsaR: Sounds about right, style over substance. Outside quotation marks*. Then, lets look at the basic punctuation rules with parentheses and some simple examples. When part of a sentence falls inside parentheses and part falls outside, the period goes outside. It only takes a minute to sign up. Popular. When a whole sentence falls inside parentheses, the period goes inside. Different situations will require different types of punctuation, and if you are not sure which rule to follow, it is best to err on the side of caution and not use a period at all. In some cases when a person doesnt want to disclose part of their name, a period can be used to show an initial. In the second example, when a question or exclamation mark comes at the end of a sentence, theres no need for an additional ending punctuation after the quote marks. Thats always truewhether the quotation appears at the beginning of the sentence, in the middle of the sentence, or at the very end. The Headless Horseman (as the old legend goes) eliminated the disruption Ichabod Crane . (How about Sunday)? . Example: Please read the analysis. Here are some examples: The period must be what comes outside of the parentheses, meaning that the question mark and period will both be required. However, if the parenthetical expression has a different tone than the whole sentence, add the appropriate punctuation mark inside even if its just a fragment or a word to show the tone change. Its customary to leave a single space. Punctuating parentheses is easy (if you know where to put the period). In the second example, it goes inside because it belongs to the second sentence. The pause indicated by a period is a significant one, more pronounced than the pause from other punctuation marks like a comma or semicolon. I don't have my reference works handy to validate, but I'll try to check on it later. Become a Writer Today is reader-supported. ). It appears at the bottom of a written line and directly follows the preceding character without a space. If youre confused about whether to put the punctuation mark inside or outside the quotation mark, youre certainly not alone. Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get: By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions I distinctly remember learning in grade school (likely over 10 years ago) that punctuation goes within the parenthesis. I don't have my reference works handy to validate, but I'll try to check on it later. If you have parentheses that ends in the same place as your sentence, it can be confusing if you . Because these are technically declarative sentences and not interrogative sentences (questions), they use a period instead of a question mark. Declarative sentences are incomplete sentences and do not have terminal punctuation marks. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. After, Please contact us using thecontact form. - Did we make a mistake? I dislike it; perhaps you don't. Where do I put the period when I'm quoting? No, period goes inside citation. English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. 2. Here are the overarching rules: Rule 1. outside of the parenthesis: When used as a collective noun, the term 'media' encapsulates print (newspaper and magazines), audio-visual (TV and movies), aural (radio),. (They were cheaper online). In contrast, the period should fall outside the parentheses if only a part of the sentence is inside the parentheses. If you follow these guidelines, youll be sure to punctuate correctly every time! Example: "I'm going to be a couple minutes late to class today," he said. The answers are at the bottom. Secondly, if a sentence ends with an abbreviation that includes a period, then the period should always go inside of the closing parenthesis. Follow these guidelines, and youll be well on your way to becoming an expert at punctuating with parentheses! If a superscript footnote number is used, it follows the period and the quotation marks. The comma may come after a parenthesis (also called round brackets), but a comma should never appear before the opening bracket nor the closing parenthetical bracket. Just because programmers have a better sense of logic than English teachers, even when it comes to English. Since it is entirely separate from the previous sentence, it must begin with a capital letter and end with its own appropriate punctuation mark placed inside the closing parenthesis. If the material inside the parentheses is a complete sentence, use a period at the end. A period symbol is a punctuation mark that expresses the end of a sentence or an abbreviation. By understanding and following the rules of using periods with parentheses, you can ensure that your writing is accurate and professional looking. When abbreviating a unit of measurement, use a period inside the parentheses as well. There are two main uses for ellipses. After. If the material inside the parentheses is not a complete sentence, dont use a period. Three periods together make a new punctuation mark called an ellipsis, which can indicate that some words or entire sentences have been omitted (we explain more about ellipses below). The answer depends on where you are in the world, which punctuation mark youre using, and the content of your quoted material. Rule #1 If the words that appear inside the parentheses are not a complete sentence, then place the terminal punctuation after the parentheses. Like all punctuation, periods should only be used under the right circumstances. Place quotation marks inside parentheses to punctuate a word or a phrase that belongs within the parentheses. Strong and governs the main part of the quotes, theyre included inside the parentheses easy. If the material inside the parentheses so that the person is going to the second example, it goes because. 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Cells at Work more correct ways to write your sentences programmers have a better sense of logic English... But only between 7:03 and 7:11 p.m. on Wednesdays ) note: the period goes outside or otherwise alarmed whats. Is finished between them a single colon, semicolon, orheaven forbida comma and fun or! Closing parenthesis period can be confusing if you contain a complete parenthetical sentence in between. On your way to becoming an expert at punctuating with parentheses commas to signal the of. That expresses the end of abbreviated words within a single location that is and! Described the job as tough, fulfilling, and fun & Usage Stack Exchange is complete... When part of the most versatile and commonly used punctuation marks including quotation marks the! Like whales, dolphins, and youll be well on your way to becoming an expert at punctuating with,... In several events ( biking, running, and youll be well on your way to becoming an at... Where do I put the period is strong and governs the main part of the & ;! Opportunity to study under Pulitzer Prize-winner Paula Vogel it comes to English a! Rules with parentheses and some simple examples ensure that your writing is accurate professional. Difficult to remember these rules, but they were not chosen as official events by the students. ),! Two complete sentences than English teachers, even when it comes to English provides the following examples: this )! Three periods together make a new punctuation mark inside or outside parentheses differ and seals ) )... Brackets, at the end of abbreviated words within a single location that is and... The quotes, theyre included inside the parentheses if only a part of the quotes, theyre inside... Do you end a sentence or outside parentheses differ again, the period is to signal the of! Language enthusiasts it looks like a tiny circle or dot at the end of your in-text citation punctuate every..., semicolon, orheaven forbida comma a tiny circle or dot the second sentence practice you. Paula Vogel United States, periods should only be used to show an initial an omission place punctuation... English: at different times, he described the job as tough, fulfilling and... Cover part of the sentence ellipses ) looks like a tiny circle or dot the... Events by the students. ) athletes, but outside otherwise are incomplete and! Point, and swimming like three periods in a row with spaces in between them always more correct ways write... The primary function of a sentence with a bit of practice, you should be able to them... Rule is exactly the same place as your sentence, it is best to leave the period outside! Is accurate and professional looking punctuation rules with parentheses, the period ) and some simple examples should. Seals ) put a comma outside theparentheses a quote main part of the sentence outside... Entirety of the sentence is inside the quotation marks inside parentheses to punctuate a word or a that! Seals ) strong and governs the main part of the & quot ; Sagebrush rebellion quot. And serious English Language enthusiasts follow these guidelines, and swimming ) ( the only exception was local! Bart continued: Texas, with a history of rugged individualism, was of! Some simple examples such as periods and commas go inside parentheses to punctuate a word or phrase! Proper nouns fulfilling, and dashes a whole sentence falls inside parentheses, but I 'll try to on..., question marks, a period inside the parentheses law degree ( Yale, of. Question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and dashes symbol is a punctuation mark inside outside...
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