Do You Put a Question Mark Inside or Outside Quotations?

The Basics of Quotation Marks

Quotation marks are punctuation marks used to indicate the beginning and end of a phrase or sentence that has been taken from another source. Quotation marks are also used when writing direct questions or statements. Quotation marks are usually paired and should be used in combination with other punctuation marks such as commas, periods, and exclamation points.

Question Marks and Quotation Marks

When writing a direct question, you should always put the question mark inside the quotation marks. This is because the question mark is part of the quoted phrase or sentence and should be included in the quotation. For example, if you are quoting someone who said, "What is the answer?" then you would write: "He asked, "What is the answer?"

Statements and Quotation Marks

When writing a direct statement, you should always put any punctuation that is part of the statement outside of the quotation marks. For example, if you are quoting someone who said, "That is the answer," then you would write: He said, "That is the answer."

Multiple Questions and Quotation Marks

When writing a direct question that contains multiple questions or statements, you should always include the question mark inside the quotation marks. For example, if you are quoting someone who said, "What is the answer? Is it the right one?" then you would write: He asked, "What is the answer? Is it the right one?"

Multiple Statements and Quotation Marks

When writing a direct statement that contains multiple statements or questions, you should always include the punctuation that is part of the statement outside the quotation marks. For example, if you are quoting someone who said, "That is the answer. Is it the right one?" then you would write: He said, "That is the answer. Is it the right one?"

Titles and Quotation Marks

When writing titles of books, songs, movies, etc., you should always put the punctuation that is part of the title outside the quotation marks. For example, if you are referencing the movie "Cinderella," you would write: We watched the movie "Cinderella."

Summary

When writing a direct question, you should always include the question mark inside the quotation marks. When writing a direct statement, you should always include any punctuation that is part of the statement outside the quotation marks. When writing titles of books, songs, movies, etc., you should always include the punctuation that is part of the title outside the quotation marks.

Conclusion

Knowing when to use question marks and quotation marks correctly is an important part of writing as it helps ensure that your writing is clear and easy to understand. Whether you are writing a direct question, statement, or title, make sure to use the correct punctuation and place it in the right place.