Punctuation can be a prickly adversary. Add quotation marks into the equation, and some people just close their eyes, hit the keyboard, and let commas and exclamation points land wherever gravity compels them. We propose a more planned approach.
Ending commas and periods are simple* – unless you’re dealing with academic citations, always put them inside the quotation. (“What? That can’t be,” you say? Indeed, though commonly confused, this is the rule. Really. )
Ending question marks and exclamation marks require some thought – is the quotation asking a question or declaring something emphatically, or are you? (“I love grammar!” she bellowed. Did she really say, “I love grammar”?)
Ending semi-colons, colons, dashes, and asterisks are also simple – always put them outside the quotation. (“Wow”; “Wait”; “What’s a semi-colon?”)
*And for those of you who noticed the asterisk, simplicity varies across oceans. We’re discussing American grammar standards here. British rules vary a bit. Questions? Let us know.