Do I put the period inside or outside the quotation marks?

Short Answer

The period always goes inside the quotation marks. (This, however, is not true for other punctuation marks.)

Quotation Marks

Long Answer

The main problem that people have with using quotes is also a fundamental one: does the period at the end of the quote go inside or outside of the quotation marks?

The period is unique among punctuation marks in that, yes, it always goes inside the quotation marks. For instance, He said, “I’m going to the mall.”

However, this is not the case for all end punctuation marks. For other punctuation marks, where the closing punctuation goes depends on which idea it refers to (the sentence or the quote).

For example, if the sentence is a question, but the words in the quote are not, the question mark would go outside the quotation marks. For example, Has he already said, “I’m going to the mall”?

If, on the other hand, the sentence is not a question, but the words in the quote are, then the question mark would go inside the quotation marks. For example, He asked, “Can I go to the mall?”

7 thoughts on “English Grammar 101: Do I Put the Period Inside or Outside the Quotation Marks?

  1. Therese says:

    “What about a single word in quotes, at the end of a sentence, or a quoted phrase within a sentence? Example 1: He said she was “”funny.”” Example 2: He said, “”something here,”” which was ironic. Does the punctuation have to go inside the quote?”

    1. sofie says:

      was wondering the same thing

    2. GG says:

      The period ALWAYS goes inside the quotation marks.

  2. Willjan M. Alaurin says:

    Your the best. Nice.

    1. jack says:

      *You’re

      1. lomi says:

        And that is on period. #FACTS

  3. Bill Urban says:

    What about the title of book in quote mark at the end of a sentence. Should period go outside the quoro marks in this instance?

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