AP style Punctuation part 1 Periods and quotation

AP style Punctuation, part 1: Periods and quotation marks

Periods � As you know, a period is placed at the end of a declarative sentence. � Also, at the end of a mildly imperative sentence: Shut the door. � At the end of some rhetorical questions, when it is more of a suggestion than a question: Why don’t we go.

Initials, abbreviations � In general, refer to the abbreviations and acronyms entry we discussed before. � Initials: In a full name, initials are to contain periods. T. S. Eliot, John F. Kennedy. � When it is an abbreviation using only initials, no periods are used: JFK, LBJ

Indirect questions, spacing � Use a period instead of a question mark at the end of an indirect question: He asked what the score was. � When placing a period at the end of a sentence, use a single space before starting the next sentence.

Periods and quotation marks � Periods always go inside quotation marks. For example: “He is one of our finest soldiers. ” � Commas also always go within quotation marks. For example: “Back then, we never knew what we were missing, ” Jones said.

A quick review � As we have discussed, when we use a speaker’s exact words in our stories, it is a direct quote and those words are placed between quotation marks.

More than one sentence � For direct quotes that are more than one sentence, it’s best to attribute at the end of the first sentence. � For example: “This budget is the best we can do under the circumstances, ” Smith said. “We’re working hard to make sure that citizens won’t feel much impact from the cutbacks. ”

More than one paragraph � When directly quoting someone for more than one consecutive paragraph, no quote mark is placed at the end of the first paragraph. � For example: “I guarantee our players will work hard every day this season, ” Leyland said. “I won’t allow anything less than 110 percent. “Anyone who chooses to dog it out there won’t be on this team for long. ”

Irony, unfamiliar terms � Put quote marks around words used in an ironical sense: The “debate” turned into a free -for-all. � An unfamiliar word being introduced to readers may be placed between quote marks: Broadcast frequencies are measured in “kilohertz. ” � In subsequent references, you wouldn’t use quote marks around kilohertz. � Only use these conventions rarely.

Partial quotes � When using a small piece of a quote, place quote marks around just the exact words the speaker uses: She said she was horrified at their “slovenly manners. ” � It’s often better to use the full quote.

Unnecessary fragments � Do not use quotation marks to report a few ordinary words or an ordinary partial quote. � Example of what not to do: The senator said he would “go home to Michigan” if he lost the election. � Instead: The senator said he would go home to Michigan if he lost the election. � Why? Losing the election pretty much means a senator goes home, regardless.

Quotes within quotes � Alternate between double quotation marks (“”) and single quotation marks (‘’) � Ex. She said, “I quote from this letter, ‘I agree with Kipling that “the female of the species is more deadly than the male, ” but the phenomenon is not an unchangeable law of nature, ’ a remark he did not explain. ”

Three marks in a row … � Use three quote marks in a row if two quoted elements end at the same time. � For example: She said, “He told me, ‘I love you. ’” � Note where the period is placed in the example.

Other punctuation � Periods and commas always go within quotation marks. � Dashes, semicolons, question marks and exclamation points go within quotation marks when they apply to the quoted material. They go outside when they apply to the whole sentence.

Don’t forget � The rules for using quotation marks with books, magazines, movies, recorded music, plays, etc. are listed in the stylebook under composition titles.

Questions?