Excellent, Herb. Your logic is impeccable. The " symbol when used for
inches is a symbol, not a punctuation mark.
Many thanks.
Dick
________________________________
Richard Veit
Department of English
University of North Carolina Wilmington
________________________________
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of STAHLKE, HERBERT F
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 2:09 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: a punctuation question
Huddleston&Pullum, writing with Geoffrey Nunberg, make no mention of
non-alphabetic symbols in their chapter on punctuation. They deal with
double inverted commas, to use a neutral term, only with respect to
paired sets that mark of such things as direct quotations and titles. I
take from this omission that when single and double inverted commas are
used lexically, to mean things like feet, inches, minutes, etc. they are
not punctuation marks and do not behave as punctuation marks. So I
would conclude that they don't move to the other side of a period or
comma any more than their lexical equivalents would. I suspect the
confusion is caused partly by the name we choose to call them:
"quotation marks" rather begs the question.
Herb
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Spruiell, William C
Sent: 2008-03-12 12:14
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: a punctuation question
With quotes setting off an expression, American practice is to put the
period inside, and British is to put the period outside, I think. The
Chicago Manual of Style (or at least, the 14th edition - I don't have
the newest one) doesn't seem to address the "quotes with expressions"
topic head-on, but does have examples of expression-marking quotes with
commas inside the quotes, so I'm assuming periods behave similarly. The
inches question, I'm clueless on.
--- Bill Spruiell
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Geoffrey Layton
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 12:00 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: a punctuation question
And does putting the period outside the last quote also apply to all
quotes setting of an expression rather than an actual quote?
Ah, to speak the Queen's English!
Geoff
> Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:48:02 -0400
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: a punctuation question
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> I was asked a punctuation question I can't answer, and I am looking
for informed help:
>
> Does the "punctuation within quotes" rule hold true if you're talking
about heights? Which way should I end the sentence? 5'11." or 5'11".
>
> My seat-of-the-pants answer is period last in a case like this where
the " symbol is not being used as a quotation mark, but that is only an
impression. I would be grateful for information from others who know the
convention.
>
> Dick Veit
>
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