The Oxford Guide to Style used in the UK prescribes commas and periods outside closing quotation marks, whereas American style is to always keep commas and periods inside closing quotation marks. Speaking of quotation marks, where Americans use double quotation marks, British style is to use single quotation marks. Here’s an example of British punctuation:
• The most recent release of WordPress has been nicknamed ‘Ella’.
Perfectly clear.
Now here’s how the Yanks do it by convention, which is less logical:
• The most recent release of WordPress has been nicknamed “Ella.”
Ouch. Hate it. The period is not part of the name, and does not logically belong in the quotes. Free and brave as we are, we certainly have our flaws.
This applies to parentheses too (but we’ll save that for another discussion).
Or, as America would write:
This applies to parentheses too (but we’ll save that for another discussion.)
Or, if you want to just dodge the decision altogether, try this one:
This applies to parentheses too. (But we’ll save that for another discussion.)
