Here's how to punctuate quotes:
1. Single or Double Quotation Marks:
* American English: Use double quotation marks (" ") to enclose the quoted material.
* British English: Use single quotation marks (' ') to enclose the quoted material.
2. Punctuation Within the Quote:
* Periods and commas go inside the closing quotation mark.
* "I'm going to the store," she said.
* Colons and semicolons go outside the closing quotation mark.
* She said, "I'm going to the store"; then she left.
* Question marks and exclamation points go inside the closing quotation mark if they are part of the quoted material.
* "Are you going to the store?" she asked.
* "I'm going to the store!" she exclaimed.
* Question marks and exclamation points go outside the closing quotation mark if they are part of the larger sentence, not the quote itself.
* Did she say, "I'm going to the store"?
* She exclaimed, "I'm going to the store!"
3. Quoting within a Quote:
* If you're quoting material that already has quotation marks, use single quotation marks for the inner quote in American English and double quotation marks for the inner quote in British English.
* "He said, 'I'm going to the store,'" she reported.
4. Introducing a Quote:
* Use a comma after the introductory phrase that introduces the quote.
* She said, "I'm going to the store."
5. Attributing the Quote:
* Use a comma after the quoted material and before the attribution.
* "I'm going to the store," she said.
* You can also use a colon to introduce a longer quote.
* She said: "I'm going to the store, but I'll be back soon."
Remember, be consistent with your choice of quotation marks throughout your letter.