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/