Grammar Tips. Period.

1. Always place the period inside the quotation mark.

INCORRECT: She says, “I am holding you in love and giving you strength”.

CORRECT: She says, “I am holding you in love and giving you strength.”

2. Place the period outside the single quote.

CORRECT:  The word qi or chi means ‘life force’.

(The word “qi” or “chi” originates from Chinese philosophy and medicine and is often translated as “life force,” “vital energy,” or “universal energy.” It is a fundamental concept in many traditional Chinese practices, such as traditional Chinese medicine, martial arts [such as Tai Chi and Qigong], and Feng Shui)

3. If single quotation marks are used inside quotation marks, place the period before the final single quotation mark.

CORRECT: She told me, “It’s hard for me to say ‘I’m sorry.'”

4. If a sentence ends with a question mark or exclamation point, the period is omitted.

CORRECT: Do you watch the TV series Are You Afraid of the Dark?

CORRECT: One company that ends with an exclamation point like Yahoo! is Yum!