proper usage of quotes and periods?

[Chiropteran]

My understanding is that the proper usage of quotes is that if the quoted text is at the end of a sentence the period comes before the quote mark.

For example:
Bob said "I like grammar." <- Correct
Bob said "I like grammar". <- Incorrect

But, this leads to a problem. Quotes aren't only used to denote speech, they are also used to denote text that should be entered exactly as quoted.

For example, if I need to give a user their password, I'll do something like this:

Your password is "password"

But, to be grammatically correct that sentence should have a period at the end.

Your password is "password." <- grammatically correct, but gives the person the wrong password if they actually enter what is in quotes

Your password is "password". <- feels wrong, but the quote correctly indicates the actual password



So, is it acceptable grammar to put the period after the quote in cases like this? Is there a better way to give the same type of information?

 

[olds]

Strunk and White, "The Elements of Style".
<damn, I am old>

 

[Chiropteran]

http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/quotes.asp

Rule 1. Periods and commas always go inside quotation marks, even inside single quotes.
Examples: The sign changed from "Walk," to "Don't Walk," to "Walk" again within 30 seconds.
She said, "Hurry up."
She said, "He said, 'Hurry up.'"

 

[Lonyo]

From a logical standpoint, and because of that, I always place punctuation outside the quotation marks unless it's part of the quotation.
I don't give a damn about proper use if proper use makes no sense. The punctuation mark isn't (usually) part of the quote, so why should it be in the quotation marks?

And apparently that's the way style dictates it should now be in UK English, while US English still says punctuation should be inside the quotation marks.

 

[BoomerD]

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu...ar/marks/quotation.htm

"Use quotation marks [ ? ? ] to set off material that represents quoted or spoken language. Quotation marks also set off the titles of things that do not normally stand by themselves: short stories, poems, and articles. Usually, a quotation is set off from the rest of the sentence by a comma; however, the typography of quoted material can become quite complicated. Here is one simple rule to remember:

In the United States, periods and commas go inside quotation marks regardless of logic. Click HERE for an explanation (sort of).
In the United Kingdom, Canada, and islands under the influence of British education, punctuation around quotation marks is more apt to follow logic. In American style, then, you would write: My favorite poem is Robert Frost's "Design." But in England you would write: My favorite poem is Robert Frost's "Design". The placement of marks other than periods and commas follows the logic that quotation marks should accompany (be right next to) the text being quoted or set apart as a title. "

 

[blackdogdeek]

i would write: your password is "password".

imo, this is ok because:

password is not quoted speech
the quotes are merely delimiters (italicizing password serves the same purpose)

 

[markgm]

I leave the period off of the end of a URL too when it ends a sentence.

 

[Chiropteran]

It seems like the best solution is to move to England.

 

[seemingly random]

Another, more detailed, book: "Grammatically Correct", by Anne Stilman. This goes into much greater detail than Strunk and White but both are useful.

 

[seemingly random]

Different delimiters?
-less/greater than
-open/close brace
-open/close square bracket

This could be troublesome though if also documenting a computer science grammar.

 

[child of wonder]

That's why I don't use quotes.

Your password is:

password

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
From a logical standpoint, and because of that, I always place punctuation outside the quotation marks unless it's part of the quotation.
I don't give a damn about proper use if proper use makes no sense. The punctuation mark isn't (usually) part of the quote, so why should it be in the quotation marks?

And apparently that's the way style dictates it should now be in UK English, while US English still says punctuation should be inside the quotation marks.

Same here. I was taught in school to put the punctuation inside but now to me it doesn't make much sense, so I put them outside.

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: child of wonder
That's why I don't use quotes.

Your password is:

password

So, you're quoting with whitespace...

 

[ISAslot]

Originally posted by: child of wonder
That's why I don't use quotes.

Your password is:

password

Hey, that's my password too!

 

[child of wonder]

Originally posted by: seemingly random

Originally posted by: child of wonder
That's why I don't use quotes.

Your password is:

password

So, you're quoting with whitespace...

Yes. It's not a grammatically correct sentence but it makes the literal password unmistakable.

For something grammatically correct, not ending the sentence with the password might be best.

I've changed your password to "password" and you should now be able to log in.

 

[Baked]

Why bother, there's no standard anymore. People just write whatever the fuck they want in personal and professional communications anyway.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: clamum

Originally posted by: Lonyo
From a logical standpoint, and because of that, I always place punctuation outside the quotation marks unless it's part of the quotation.
I don't give a damn about proper use if proper use makes no sense. The punctuation mark isn't (usually) part of the quote, so why should it be in the quotation marks?

And apparently that's the way style dictates it should now be in UK English, while US English still says punctuation should be inside the quotation marks.

Same here. I was taught in school to put the punctuation inside but now to me it doesn't make much sense, so I put them outside.

:thumbsup: Me too. Logic FTW.

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
From a logical standpoint, and because of that, I always place punctuation outside the quotation marks unless it's part of the quotation.
I don't give a damn about proper use if proper use makes no sense. The punctuation mark isn't (usually) part of the quote, so why should it be in the quotation marks?

And apparently that's the way style dictates it should now be in UK English, while US English still says punctuation should be inside the quotation marks.

I did the same thing throughout college. I put the period/questionmark/whatever at the end of the quotation, and then another one outside. Never had anyone complain, because it was obvious that I knew the "rule" but was doing the logical thing. BTW, the reason the period goes inside the quote has to do with some old typesetting technology.

 

[mugs]

The answer depends on whether you're in the UK or the US. I agree with Lonyo though.

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: child of wonder

Originally posted by: seemingly random

Originally posted by: child of wonder
That's why I don't use quotes.

Your password is:

password

So, you're quoting with whitespace...

Yes. It's not a grammatically correct sentence but it makes the literal password unmistakable.

For something grammatically correct, not ending the sentence with the password might be best.

I've changed your password to "password" and you should now be able to log in.

I think what's most important is that the intention is understood by the reader - whether grammatically correct or not.

It's always best to follow applicable conventions but these conventions where developed before computers.

But the best answer is probably to do it like most others do it - that is easily understood.

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: clamum

Originally posted by: Lonyo
From a logical standpoint, and because of that, I always place punctuation outside the quotation marks unless it's part of the quotation.
I don't give a damn about proper use if proper use makes no sense. The punctuation mark isn't (usually) part of the quote, so why should it be in the quotation marks?

And apparently that's the way style dictates it should now be in UK English, while US English still says punctuation should be inside the quotation marks.

Same here. I was taught in school to put the punctuation inside but now to me it doesn't make much sense, so I put them outside.

:thumbsup: Me too. Logic FTW.

+1

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
. BTW, the reason the period goes inside the quote has to do with some old typesetting technology.

Yeah I saw that on the other link, using a ". typesetting thing was more likely to break than using ."

Chiropteran said "I'm just going to use the UK system for quotes from now on".

 

[Jeff7]

What if I'm posing a question about a statement?

Example:

Why did Holmes say "Brilliant!"?

How does that work? "Brilliant" is an exclamation, but I'm asking a question.

Why did Holmes say "Brilliant?" makes it sound like I'm not only asking a question, but that Holmes was also questioning something.

 

[Chiropteran]

Yeah, that goes with my original question too. What if the password actually had a period at the end of it?

Your password is "password.." <- correct US grammar?
Your password is "password.". <- still looks awkward, but makes more sense to me

 

[amdhunter]

Thats why I put it like this.

Your password is "password" without the quotes.
^ Avoids the problem altogether.

Who emails passwords anyway? I always verbally give out passwords...and its always something that they have to change right away on their own.