Using Quotation Marks and Colons/Semicolons Together

[chomiji]

The Grammarians have been asked "How do you use quotation marks and colons/semicolons together?"

This combination really does conjure up visions of a punctuation traffic jam. Let's take a closer look, and we'll work it out -- one way or another.

This topic was considered briefly in a previous column (Grammar 101: Punctuation, Part 3), but we'll go into more detail today. You may already know that punctuation marks such as periods and commas go inside the quotation marks in U.S. usage (and sometimes in British usage as well):

"The best thing about an automobile ride is the wind whipping past your ears," said Tock, enthusiastically.

Before his expedition to the Lands Beyond, Milo certainly wouldn't have described math as "fascinating." In fact, he thought it was boring, which is also what he thought about almost everything else, too.

British usage is to put the period (known as a "full stop") or the comma outside the quotation marks in cases of a partial quotation (in which case the punctuation does not belong to the quoted material):

"The food aboard this ship is not very nutritious," complained Eustace.

"How's that? I wouldn't let the cook hear you say his food's 'not very delicious'," said Rince, the mate. "Handy fellow with a rolling pin, our cook."

If you had asked Eustace to describe his Pevensie cousins, there was a good chance he would have used words like "barmy" or perhaps simply "mad".

There are no such special exceptions for the semicolon (or the colon, for that matter). Proper usage in both styles is to drop the colon or semicolon if it comes at the end of a quotation:

"Well," said Lucy, "You know the captain always says 'there are three kinds of pirate.' "

Indeed, a moment later, they heard the captain say, "You know, Your Majesty, there are three kinds of pirate: the brigand, the buccaneer, and the privateer."

"The suspect's criminal behavior was observed in the word market; specifically, he'd been causing a disturbance," said Officer Shrift. "Guilty!" he added.

"I was just looking! That's all anyone could have 'observed in the word market,' " objected Milo.

Of course, if the semicolon or colon belongs to the main sentence, it should be left outside the quotation marks:

Lord Rhoop was completely undone by his time on the mysterious "Dark Island"; indeed, he was nearly incoherent with relief when he was rescued.

Dr. Dischord had a number of interesting symptoms that he liked to list for his favorite ailment, "lack of noise": silence, quiet, calm, softness, and hush were among them.

As you can see, there's no need to be alarmed by the prospect of a semicolon (or colon) and some quotation marks in the same vicinity. If the semicolon or colon belongs to the sentence, leave it outside of the quotation marks. If the semicolon or colon belongs to the quoted material, it can be omitted if it comes at the end of the quotation.

Sources

• Chicago Manual of Style, 13th edition, 1982.
• Punctuating Around Quotation Marks (APA Style blog, August 11, 2011)
• 'The British style'? 'The American way?' They are not so different (Mind Your Language blog, The Guardian)

 

Comments

[dark-weezing.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this. The issue has often stumped me, particularly with the colon. I'm improving with the semi-colon, but it's a gradual process.

Thanks, again.

[chomiji]

I'm glad this helped!

[china_shop]

Great post, thank you!

P.S. In the example there was a good chance he would have used words like "balmy" or perhaps simply "mad", I think you want "barmy", not "balmy". :-)

[chomiji]

Hmmm, it looks like the "balmy" version has also come to be accepted as meaning "mad," at least in the United States, but you're correct: Eustace would indeed have been thinking "barmy." I'll fix it - thanks!