1

Which of the following is correct:

  1. (This is a "test").
  2. (This is a "test.")
  3. (This is a "test".)
IQAndreas
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Julie
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1 Answers1

3

Let's first look at the parentheses (Example #1). As is brought out in this answer (only the relevant point has been included):

Examine the material enclosed by parentheses. Is it an entire sentence? If so, place the period inside the closing parenthesis.

Since "This is a test" is a complete sentence, the period belongs inside of the parentheses, so the first example is incorrect (though, people will definitely still understand you even if you are "slightly incorrect" in that case).

The other two examples you posted will vary depending on if you are reading American English or British English. Example #2 is preferred in Britain, Example #3 is preferred in the United States. See the following answer for more details: How should I punctuate around quotes?

Community
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IQAndreas
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  • I suspect the mismatched quotation marks are a typo (and it's not breaking any HTML rules that I'm aware of). Could you please update your answer to address the position of the period in that example? – Bradd Szonye Apr 01 '14 at 20:44
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    @BraddSzonye Oh, I see now; the parentheses are part of the question (that's what I get for skimming the title). – IQAndreas Apr 01 '14 at 20:47
  • @BraddSzonye And regarding HTML, yes, I know, but I hate that <br> is perfectly valid syntax. I feel <br/> should be a requirement, and I stubbornly refuse to acknowledge that it isn't. ;) – IQAndreas Apr 01 '14 at 20:48
  • As has been pointed out before, the term 'British English' is misleading. Different styles are not country-specific. – Edwin Ashworth Apr 01 '14 at 21:58
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    @EdwinAshworth Do you have a link to where that has been pointed out before? If that is the case, I would like to include that information in the answer. – IQAndreas Apr 01 '14 at 22:21
  • While quotation punctuation isn't universal in the UK or the US, I think it's fair to say that it's generally preferred that way. – Bradd Szonye Apr 02 '14 at 07:17
  • In the thread How to correctly use double quotation marks at the end of a sentence? . I usually try to use a logical approach leading to fewer possibilities for confusion; this may lead to double punctuation at the end of quotes, for which I can find 'authoritative' support. (One must realise that some quotes are of direct speech, which carries no punctuation, while others are of already-punctuated material: tricky if originally in an alternative style.) – Edwin Ashworth Apr 02 '14 at 15:04
  • I also think that those people who use the 'British / American' terminology here would say you've got them the wrong way round in your final paragraph. – Edwin Ashworth Apr 02 '14 at 17:25