I've yet to see any published or academic writer that disregards the "period inside quotations rule." Good writers don't ostentatiously flout accepted grammatical rules just because they think they're silly. In this case, breaking the rule would cause much more confusion than following it.

Furthermore, test your theory out in any freshman Comp 101 class and see how far you get.

This Is the quote in question. We're discussing the American usage. How dense are you, really?

Presumably you are still at a fairly early stage in your school career and have yet to be exposed to any literature from the world at large.

Or perhaps you simply don't read books?

Either way, I can assure you that educated and literate Americans have no trouble reading texts from the rest of the world despite the fact that they will use a different rule to the one you are so adamant is some sort of global absolute.

Also, I found this error in your above post. Following your logic, I now find your opinion on this matter (and everything else) completely irrelevant.

What happens when you are asking a question that ends in a quotation? If the quotation isn't a question itself, is it just better to rearrange the sentence?

Poor example:

-What's the deal with people saying "I could care less"?
or
-What's the deal with people saying "I could care less?"

You may be discussing US usage. I was talking about usage in general.

That is because you do not understand the fundamental difference between someone who demonstrates, repeatedly, incorrect capitalisation and a simple, single letter omission, typo.

Perhaps the distinction is a little subtle for you?

.

^^ Thanks for proving my point.

I ventured an opinion on what was sensible and logical, not on whether or not any particular group of people had or had not adopted a ******ed system.

Actually, I think it's pretty clear that mikech is just being informal on a message board--or do you actually think he doesn't know he should capitalize words at the beginning of sentences?

You, otoh, are being a smug little prick, and an incorrect one, at that. Is that distinct enough for you?

Regardless of what they do in the UK, putting punctuation inside the quotation marks isn't just some "silly grade school rule" in the US. It's correct according to Associated Press, Chicago, and I assume most other reputable style guides.

THE QUOTE YOU WERE AGREEING WITH WAS INCORRECT ABOUT AMERICAN USAGE. STOP MOVING THE GOAL POSTS, PLEASE.

Also, to be absolutely clear so you don't get confused, I know every word in a sentence shouldn't be capitalized.

As far as illiteracy goes: if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck.

Don't you think it might be a good idea to calm down a little.

You seem to have got yourself rather worked up.

Maybe a quiet lie down in a darkened room?

Seriously, calm down.

That was spadebidder's take. I'm not even sure what a 'grade school' is.

I was merely agreeing with him that the rule was illogical.

Unfortunately ATAT has got his panties in a terrible bunch over it. He'll probably calm down in a while.

wow qpw sucks

That's all right.

I know you have got yourself a bit worked up and needed to have a good shout.

Do you feel better now?

This falls under the "unless it causes confusion" portion of the rule. Generally, a writer will put the ? outside the quotation marks so that it won't cause a distraction to the reader. So, generally, the former would be used.

This.

This a hundred times.

I'm a punctuation-on-the-outside guy even though I know I'm breaking the rule. I tend to be a nit, but following the rule makes writing less clear. Since it's not a universal rule anyway, I don't think there's anything wrong with putting punctuation marks outside of the quotation marks.

Saying that it makes writing less clear is sort of vague and unfair. Often times it is perfectly fine and detracts absolutely nothing from the sentence or the meaning.

If you're just always putting it outside the marks and saying it makes writing "less clear" then you're kind of cheating. I'm not sure who or what you're cheating, though.

No?

Of course I'm struggling to come up with an example of it being confusing. I suppose it has to be something where I'm asking a question and it's not clear whether or not the quotation is a question. Same is true of when adding emphasis with an exclamation point.

So what is the rule when quoting a question in a regular sentence. For example, earlier in the thread ATAT asked "Is that distinct enough for you?". I'm not sure using either system how to punctuate that. The question mark would go inside either way, but I'm not sure about the period. It looks weird putting a question mark then a period, but it looks weirder to me to not end with a period.

edit: I'm even less sure about a question without a question. Did Bush really say "is our children learning?"? That looks ridiculous so I'm thinking you must just leave it at the inside question mark in either system.

Big Nick's in New York.

Yeah I need clarification on this. I'm the guy who originally put the punctuation outside the quotes itt, sparking the awesome, yet terrible debate that followed.

Regardless of correctitude, I would in this case also put the "?" outside the quotation, because what is being quoted is a statement, and what is being asked (the question) is independent of that statement.

But apparently this is totally wrong in America.

Also I do not believe you can contract "Vehicles" with "V's". I mean can a measly little " ' " mark really take the place of six letters? That seems egregious, and a lot of work for the " ' " symbol.

According to Associated Press style, you only use an apostrophe when pluralizing single letters. For example, both of the following are correct:

"I bought two CDs at the record store today."

"I got two D's on my report card."