Quick grammatical question

TJN23

Golden Member
May 4, 2002
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When quoting a word at the end of a interrogative sentence, where do the quotes go?

here's my sentence - example:

If statistics show that printable forms of media can reach virtually all members of every social and ethnic group, then why should it feel any pressure from the prospect of emerging ?e-publishers??

?e-publishers?? or ?e-publishers"?
 

FeathersMcGraw

Diamond Member
Oct 17, 2001
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I don't have a grammar citation handy, but I don't see why the question mark would be included inside the quotation marks unless it was part of a quotation.
 

djheater

Lifer
Mar 19, 2001
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I would assume that the punctuation would go outside the marks, much like parentheses. I qould question the use of quotation marks in that manner in the first place though. Seems unnecessary.
 

TJN23

Golden Member
May 4, 2002
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do you think modern rules of grammar would accept the precendent e-

e-file
email
etc.

e-publishers or "e-publishers"
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
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I suck at grammer, but I do remember one rule that my teachers forced down my throat when I was young. If the quote is a sentence, then include the punctuation inside the quotation marks. Otherwise it always belongs outside.
 

WobbleWobble

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2001
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I would go ?e-publishers"?

If the whole sentence was quoted instead, then it would be included inside the quotes. But when it's just a word, leave it outside.
 

TJN23

Golden Member
May 4, 2002
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what about just plain ole'

e-publishers?


this is an IT paper for a 477 level class - I tend to think an IT professor would be a little lenient seeing it without quotes versus an English professor
 

ragazzo

Golden Member
Jan 9, 2002
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"e-publishers"?

unless you're quoting a question in your question, in which case, it would be:

"e-publishers?"?
 

SWScorch

Diamond Member
May 13, 2001
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I was always told that all punctuation except colons and semicolons belong inside the quotation marks.
 

TJN23

Golden Member
May 4, 2002
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the majority of you all say: "e-publishers"?

but this has caused quite a controversy
 

allisolm

Elite Member
Administrator
Jan 2, 2001
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Put a dash, question mark, or exclamation point within closing quotation marks when the punctuation applies to the quotation itself and outside when it applies to the whole sentence.

Philip asked, "Do you need this book?"
Does Dr. Lim always say to her students, "You must work harder"?

From here.

It also says there NOT to put quotation mark around common nicknames, bits of humor, technical terms that readers are likely to know, and trite or well-known expressions.

In this case I would write e-publishers? no quotes.
 

TwinkleToes77

Diamond Member
Jul 13, 2002
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Originally posted by: dullard
I suck at grammer, but I do remember one rule that my teachers forced down my throat when I was young. If the quote is a sentence, then include the punctuation inside the quotation marks. Otherwise it always belongs outside.
Thats the same rule i remember.. so in this instance it would be "e-publishers"?
 

shenaniganz

Golden Member
Aug 20, 2003
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Originally posted by: SWScorch
I was always told that all punctuation except colons and semicolons belong inside the quotation marks.

That's how I remember it too, but your case is definitely unique.