Do you use quotation marks after a colon?
The general rule is that commas and periods should be inside the quotation marks at all times, while all other forms of punctuation, such as question marks, colons, semicolons, and exclamation points, should be outside the quotation marks, unless they were contained in the original quotation.
How do you use a colon with a quote?
To present a quotation after a complete sentence (e.g., those ending in thus or as follows), put a colon after the introductory sentence and before the quotation marks.
Should you put a colon before a quote?
Writers often ask whether they should use a comma, a colon, or nothing when introducing a quotation. Strictly speaking, you should only use a colon before a quotation when the introduction is an independent clause or the quotation itself is a complete sentence.
Do you put a colon before a quote?
Punctuation before quotation marks Commas and colons can be used before the start of a quote. Commas are used for short quotes; colons for longer quotes.
Do quote marks go inside or outside punctuation?
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. Phillip asked, “Do you need this book?”
When should punctuation be outside of quotation 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. Peter, however, didn’t believe him. “I’m not sure that’s exactly what happened.”
Can you put a colon before a quote?
Where do you put punctuation in a quote?
- Commas and colons can be used before the start of a quote.
- Short punctuation (periods, commas) that is part of the sentence stays inside the quotation marks.
- All punctuation marks that are part of the original quote stay inside the quotation marks.