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Do you put the comma before or after quotations?

The placement of the comma depends on whether the quotation is a complete sentence or a fragment. Here's a breakdown:

Complete Sentence:

* Comma goes inside the quotation marks: This is the standard rule in American English.

* Example: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog," said the teacher.

Fragment:

* Comma goes outside the quotation marks: This applies when the quotation is part of a larger sentence.

* Example: The teacher said, "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."

Exceptions:

* Direct address: If the quotation includes a direct address, the comma goes inside the quotation marks even if the quotation is a fragment.

* Example: "John," she whispered, "I need your help."

* Other punctuation: If the quotation includes other punctuation (like a question mark or exclamation point), those go inside the quotation marks.

* Example: "Did you see that?" she exclaimed.

Important Note: British English often places commas outside of quotation marks regardless of whether the quotation is a complete sentence or a fragment.

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