Here's why:
* Standard rule: In a standard citation, the period goes *after* the closing parenthesis of the citation.
* Block quote exception: When a citation is at the end of a block quote, the period goes *before* the closing parenthesis of the citation.
Here's an example:
Standard citation:
> "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." (Smith 2023)
Block quote citation:
> "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. This is a long sentence to illustrate the block quote format." (Smith 2023).
This rule helps to maintain visual clarity and consistency in formatting.