Lesson 86 Quotation Marks for Direct Quotations Solutions

Start by correctly placing punctuation around the words being quoted. Always ensure that the punctuation marks are inside the quotation marks when they belong to the quoted material, not the sentence itself. For instance, if the sentence ends with the quoted phrase, the period should be placed inside the quotation marks.

Remember the rules for commas and periods: When using commas or periods in a quoted sentence, these punctuation marks should appear inside the quotation marks. This rule applies to both American and British English styles in most cases.

Handle question marks and exclamation points carefully: These punctuation marks should be placed inside the quotation marks if they are part of the quoted sentence. If they apply to the surrounding sentence instead, place them outside the marks. Double-check these placements to avoid confusion and ensure proper usage.