Do you put a period after quotations?

Answer 1

Yes, you do.

An example from the novel The Kite Runner,

"Ask him where his shame is. They spoke. He says this is war. There is no shame in war. Tell him he's wrong. War doesn't negate decency. It demands it, even more than in times of peace" (Hosseini 121-122).

Answer 2

This depends on the context...

If the quotation is at the end of the sentence, place a period inside the quotation marks.

EX: Raul remarked, "I rather dislike pistachios."

If the sentence continues on after the sentence, place a comma inside the quotation marks.

EX: "Now I see your point," she admitted.

And in the case that the quotation is at the end of the sentence AND one is writing a research paper with MLA internal citations, the period comes outside of the quotation marks and after the internal citation.

EX: Disease was originally thought to originate from "unbalance humors or devilish spirits" (Robinson 56).

(Note that these rules change if you use exclamation points or question marks.)

(Also note that the citation and quoted text in the third example are completely fictitious.)

Answer 3

In American English, periods typically go inside closing quotation marks. This is known as the American style. However, in British English, periods go outside closing quotation marks unless they are part of the quoted material.

Answer 4

Well, either that, or, you would be a comma, depending upon rather or not you wish to continue the sentence!