Author Question: Discuss how to use periods, commas, colons, semicolons, question marks, and exclamation points with ... (Read 123 times)

audragclark · **on:** Jun 23, 2018

Discuss how to use periods, commas, colons, semicolons, question marks, and exclamation points with quotation marks.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

When does a period fault occur? How can a writer solve this problem?

What will be an ideal response?

af · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Periods and commas are always placed inside the closing quotation mark. Colons and
semicolons are always placed outside the closing quotation mark. Question marks and
exclamation points may be placed either inside or outside the closing quotation mark,
depending on whether or not the question mark or exclamation point is part of the quotation.
These rules can be followed:
a. If the quoted words are a question, then the question mark belongs inside the closing
quotation mark.
b. If the quoted words do not make up a question, the question mark belongs to the entire
sentence. Place the question mark outside the closing quotation mark. Treat exclamations the
same way as questions.

Answer to Question 2

Using a period at the end of an incomplete thought or fragment is a period fault. An incomplete
thought, or fragment, is not a sentence and therefore cannot stand alone. It should not end
with a period. A period fault often occurs when a dependent clause is separated from the main
clause. Generally, joining the incomplete thought to a main clause will solve the problem.