A student is writing an essay about literary analysis and needs to correctly integrate a quote from a novel. Which sentence correctly uses punctuation with the quoted material?
- AThe character reflects, "I have seen enough to know that life is both beautiful and cruel."
- BThe author suggests that "love is a many-splendored thing"; this theme recurs throughout the novel.
- CShe concluded her argument by stating, "The novel's ending was ambiguous, leaving readers to ponder its true meaning.".
- DAccording to the text, "The old man was tired, but he refused to give up." (Hemingway 25).
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. The character reflects, "I have seen enough to know that life is both beautiful and cruel."
Option C correctly places the period inside the closing quotation mark because the quoted material is a complete sentence. Options A incorrectly uses a semicolon inside the quote. Option B incorrectly places the period before the parenthetical citation. Option D incorrectly places a period both inside and outside the quotation marks.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. This option incorrectly places the semicolon inside the quotation marks; punctuation like semicolons and colons always go outside the closing quotation mark.
- C. This option incorrectly places a period both inside and outside the quotation marks, which is redundant.
- D. This option incorrectly places the period before the parenthetical citation; the period should come after the closing parenthesis in MLA style.
Punctuation with Quotations
Periods and commas always go inside the closing quotation marks. Semicolons and colons always go outside. Question marks and exclamation points go inside if they are part of the quote, outside if they are part of the main sentence.
- Periods and commas: always inside.
- Semicolons and colons: always outside.
- Question marks/Exclamation points: inside if part of quote, outside if part of sentence.
- Parenthetical citations: period AFTER the citation.
Memory trick: Periods and commas snuggle in, others stay out or ask where to begin.