Does punctuation go inside or outside quotations?

This is a tricky question because the answer depends on the style guide you're using. Here's a breakdown:

American English (generally)

* Periods and commas go INSIDE the quotation marks.

* Example: "The cat sat on the mat," she said.

* Colons and semicolons go OUTSIDE the quotation marks.

* Example: She said, "The cat sat on the mat"; then she left.

* Question marks and exclamation points go INSIDE the quotation marks if the question or exclamation is part of the quoted material.

* Example: Did you say, "I'm going to the store"?

* Question marks and exclamation points go OUTSIDE the quotation marks if the question or exclamation applies to the whole sentence, not just the quoted material.

* Example: What did she mean when she said, "I'm going to the store"?

British English

* Periods and commas go OUTSIDE the quotation marks.

* Example: She said, "The cat sat on the mat".

* Colons and semicolons, question marks, and exclamation points generally follow the American English rules.

Important Note:

* If you're writing for a specific publication or academic journal, always follow their style guide.

* If you're unsure, use the American English rules as they are the most common.

Let me know if you'd like more examples!