Semicolon Always Goes Outside Quotation Marks
The Semicolon
Rulebase Summary
When a semicolon and a closing quotation mark appear at the same point in a sentence, the semicolon always goes outside (after) the closing quotation mark. This is the opposite of the period rule — unlike periods, semicolons are never placed inside quotation marks.
Morson's Rule 28 · p.19 BGGP Quotes.22 · p.119 Morson's Rule 107 · p.63
Examples
✗
A. He kept saying "I don't recall;" then he changed his story.
✓
A. He kept saying "I don't recall"; then he changed his story.
Semicolon goes outside the closing quotation mark.
✗
A. The sign read "No Trespassing;" however, the gate was wide open.
✓
A. The sign read "No Trespassing"; however, the gate was wide open.
Unlike periods, semicolons always go outside quotes.
Style Guide References (3)
Morson's
Rule 28
Page 19
BGGP
Quotes.22
Page 119
Morson's
Rule 107
Page 63