Quotes and parenthesis and grammar, oh my!
March 27, 2020 11:47 PM Subscribe
Where does the period go at the end of this sentence: "It was just like I remember it" (24:165). After "it," inside the quotes? Inside the parenthesis? Or as is?
I'm translating a book from one language into English, but I am not sure about the proper way to punctuate a sentence that ends with a quote as well as a bibliography reference. The content of the above quote isn't really important--what I need to know is where the period should go.
This is for a commercial publication, so APA and MLA don't really apply....I think. Most important is that I keep it consistent throughout the book.
I'm translating a book from one language into English, but I am not sure about the proper way to punctuate a sentence that ends with a quote as well as a bibliography reference. The content of the above quote isn't really important--what I need to know is where the period should go.
This is for a commercial publication, so APA and MLA don't really apply....I think. Most important is that I keep it consistent throughout the book.
Ignoring the bibliography reference and focusing solely on the quotes and the full stop, it appears there are differences between US english and UK english. It also appears to be context-dependent if you are quoting a full sentence or a fragment: 'The British style'? 'The American way?' They are not so different
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posted by are-coral-made at 12:08 AM on March 28, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by are-coral-made at 12:08 AM on March 28, 2020 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I should note this is for an academic, non-fiction book.
i_am, if I put the period inside the quotes, the parenthesis come after with no period? And then a space later begin the new sentence?
Like: "...she said." (23:32) According to...
It seems a bit strange to me to have that parenthetical with no period. It looks like it's part of the next sentence. Or just hanging in limbo.
posted by zardoz at 12:34 AM on March 28, 2020
i_am, if I put the period inside the quotes, the parenthesis come after with no period? And then a space later begin the new sentence?
Like: "...she said." (23:32) According to...
It seems a bit strange to me to have that parenthetical with no period. It looks like it's part of the next sentence. Or just hanging in limbo.
posted by zardoz at 12:34 AM on March 28, 2020
The academic style guides I have used for journal articles and academic books usually require it to be the way your example already is. That said, your publisher should have a style guide that covers this.
posted by lollusc at 2:08 AM on March 28, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by lollusc at 2:08 AM on March 28, 2020 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I’m a professional copy editor for a scientific journal. In American English, it goes after the parenthesis, exactly as you have it.
posted by FencingGal at 2:19 AM on March 28, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by FencingGal at 2:19 AM on March 28, 2020 [4 favorites]
Is the publication British or American? Look at what the practice is in a copy of that publication, make sure you understand it and then do that.
posted by Jane the Brown at 5:41 AM on March 28, 2020
posted by Jane the Brown at 5:41 AM on March 28, 2020
As you have it looks most sensible otherwise the reference just dangles there. Possibly also a '.' before the closing quote, otherwise I'd be inclined to put a ',' after the closing quote but that might not be house style.
posted by epo at 6:10 AM on March 28, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by epo at 6:10 AM on March 28, 2020 [1 favorite]
I'm with epo in suggesting it will depend on house style, as well as the dominant style guide you follow, whether Chicago, AP, or some other.
posted by lometogo at 12:04 AM on November 10, 2020
posted by lometogo at 12:04 AM on November 10, 2020
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