What does closed punctuation mean?

"Closed punctuation" is a term used in American English, particularly in academic writing, to describe a style of punctuation where a period is placed inside the closing quotation mark, regardless of whether it is a sentence-ending punctuation mark or not.

Example:

* "The cat sat on the mat." (Closed punctuation)

This is in contrast to "open punctuation," which is the preferred style in British English and many other English-speaking countries. In open punctuation, the period is placed outside the closing quotation mark if it is the sentence-ending punctuation.

Example:

* "The cat sat on the mat". (Open punctuation)

Here's a table summarizing the differences:

| Style | Period placement |

|--------------|-----------------|

| Closed | Inside quotation mark |

| Open | Outside quotation mark (if sentence-ending) |

Important Note:

* While "closed punctuation" is the traditional style in American academic writing, it is becoming less common in other contexts.

* There is no right or wrong style, but it's important to be consistent within a single piece of writing.

Ultimately, the best punctuation style is the one that is clearly understood and used consistently.