Grammar Question
Although at times maddening and nonsensical, I'm dealing with the fact that, apparently, periods ALWAYS go INSIDE the quotation marks. But here's an example of a situation, I'm still not sure about:
Because he thought his true height (6'5") sounded freakish, John Wayne told people he was 6'4".
Surely, it's not supposed to be this:
Because he thought his true height (6'5") sounded freakish, John Wayne told people he was 6'4."
Reasoning, perhaps, that since the quotation mark is not actually quoting anything, it's not a quotation mark? Or is, in fact, the latter version the correct one?
I sent my query to Charles Darling, Ph.D.; Professor of English, Webmaster; Capital Community College; Hartford, CT; via the cool website, www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
He wrote back: "I had never thought of this exception before, but yes, your instincts are right. The quote mark goes with the numbers preceding it and the terminal mark should go after it."
2:53:05 PM 
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