A complaint about quotation marks

[RealSNR]

I have a complaint.

When you want to write out a question and your sentence contains a set of quotation marks at the end, it's the rule to write it out like this:

Did you know John Adams died shortly after uttering his last words, "Thomas Jefferson survives?"

But what about a sentence like this?

Did you know Billy Butthead died shortly after asking his wife, "Did you gain weight?"

Now in the first sentence, the question mark ends the entire sentence, which is a question. So shouldn't it make sense that the question mark should go AFTER the quotation marks? Putting it inside seems to suggest that it is a question being asked by someone in the sentence, which is not true. In the second sentence, it's okay, because the overall sentence at the question itself require a question mark. But now, what if we turn the 2nd sentence into a statement?

Billy Butthead died shortly after asking his wife, "Did you gain weight?"

The sentence is not a question, but a statement. If we REALLY wanted to be thorough, we should put a period at the end of the quotation marks. Then it would also follow that we could write the second sentence like this: Did you know Billy Butthead died shortly after asking his wife, "Did you gain weight?"? It's less efficient, but it's practical. There's a mark at the end of the sentence in the quotation marks, and there's a punctuation mark at the end of the sentence. They're two different things, and the quotations should not get in the way presenting the reader with this information.

Basically, my point is I don't see any reason why punctuation is not allowed to go outside quotation marks. Why? Because it's more aesthetically pleasing the other way? That's stupid. Language should have rules that are practical and make sense.

Who's with me on this?

[teedubya]

F""uck quotations marks.

[RealSNR]

Also, another way is to just treat the quotation as something else, and not even include punctuation. At least this way it would be clear that the statement in the quotations is not a question. This looks much better to me:

Did you know John Adams died shortly after uttering his last words, "Thomas Jefferson survives"?

See? John Adams didn't ask if Jefferson was alive. I'M asking if you know that he did in fact say this. My way demonstrates that better than the current method.

[Ultra Peanut]

tAWe

[Reaper16]

**** it. Write it the way you feel and let your editors clean it up.

[Just Passin' By]

You can use the punctuation either inside or outside. Using it inside is known as the American style. Using it outside is known as the British style:

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/gramm.../quotation.htm

Hell, be a rebel and put it in both spots. If you're an adult, who's going to grade you?

[greg63]

[Pioli Zombie]

Grammar is Ghey.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Frosty]

I was taught in school to put punctuation outside the quotation marks but my kids are being taught to put it inside. Not sure when the switchover happened.

[Kylo Ren]

Originally Posted by SNR

I have a complaint.

When you want to write out a question and your sentence contains a set of quotation marks at the end, it's the rule to write it out like this:

Did you know John Adams died shortly after uttering his last words, "Thomas Jefferson survives?"

But what about a sentence like this?

Did you know Billy Butthead died shortly after asking his wife, "Did you gain weight?"

Now in the first sentence, the question mark ends the entire sentence, which is a question. So shouldn't it make sense that the question mark should go AFTER the quotation marks? Putting it inside seems to suggest that it is a question being asked by someone in the sentence, which is not true. In the second sentence, it's okay, because the overall sentence at the question itself require a question mark. But now, what if we turn the 2nd sentence into a statement?

Billy Butthead died shortly after asking his wife, "Did you gain weight?"

The sentence is not a question, but a statement. If we REALLY wanted to be thorough, we should put a period at the end of the quotation marks. Then it would also follow that we could write the second sentence like this: Did you know Billy Butthead died shortly after asking his wife, "Did you gain weight?"? It's less efficient, but it's practical. There's a mark at the end of the sentence in the quotation marks, and there's a punctuation mark at the end of the sentence. They're two different things, and the quotations should not get in the way presenting the reader with this information.

Basically, my point is I don't see any reason why punctuation is not allowed to go outside quotation marks. Why? Because it's more aesthetically pleasing the other way? That's stupid. Language should have rules that are practical and make sense.

Who's with me on this?

You CAN and SHOULD put the punctuation outside of the quotation marks when appropriate, as your example suggests. So, what's the problem? I was taught this is 8th grade, or maybe even earlier. You've got it right. You just don't know that you've got it right. Welcome to modern English, genius.

[Simply Red]

"BEEN STANDING 'ROUND HERE SUCKIN ON MY BIG OL' CHILI DOG"

[Hammock Parties]

It doesn't look nearly as good.