Question mark goes inside the quotation marks when the quotation is a question; outside when it isn't: 

Pilate asked, "What is truth?"
Who said, "I am the decider"?

Same is true for exclamation points.

Dick Veit


-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar on behalf of Geoffrey Layton
Sent: Thu 10/11/2007 9:05 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Quotation Confusion
 

OK, I know that a direct quote requires that the quotation marks go outside the endmark - but how about when the quotation marks delineate a phrase such as the following:  Shall we give them the "hearty handshake, pat on the back, and the warm glow of victory". OR . . . the "hearty handshake, pat on the back, and the warm glow of victory?"  Clearly, the question mark doesn't apply to the item in quotes, and I keep running into this question all the time.  I really want to use the quote-endmark form - but the long knives are out for those who make red marks and and then make mistakes themselves!  I want to have you guys to back me up!  And if this is acceptable (preferred?), is there any reference I can go to (other than you*!)?
 
Geoff Layton
 
* This is an instance where (to allude to a recent thread), the language really needs the plural you - ya'll!
_________________________________________________________________
Boo! Scare away worms, viruses and so much more! Try Windows Live OneCare!
http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/purchase/trial.aspx?s_cid=wl_hotmailnews
To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
and select "Join or leave the list"

Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/


To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
and select "Join or leave the list"

Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/