Grammar Post: Punctuation With Quotations

I have had a problem knowing where to put punctuation when writing quotations. Does the period or comma go inside or outside quotation marks in a sentence? Here are the general rules:

Use a comma to introduce a quotation after a standard dialogue tag, a brief introductory phrase, or a dependant clause.

The detective said, "I am sure who performed the murder."

Put commas and periods within quotation marks, except when a parenthetical reference follows.

He said, "I may forget your name, but I never forget a face."

Mullen, criticizing the apparent inaction, writes, "Donahue's policy was to do nothing" (24).

Place colons and semicolons outside closed quotation marks.

Williams described the experiment as "a definitive step forward"; other scientists disagreed.

Benedetto emphasizes three elements of what she calls her "Olympic journey":
family support, personal commitment, and great coaching.

Place a question mark or exclamation point within closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the quotation itself. Place the punctuation outside the closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the whole sentence.

Phillip asked, "Do you need this book?"

Does Dr. Lim always say to her students, "You must work harder"?

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/577/03/