a is always placed after a closing quotation mark
The statement "a is always placed after a closing quotation mark" is not entirely accurate. In English language punctuation rules, there are specific guidelines for placing punctuation marks in relation to quotation marks. The general rule is that punctuation marks are placed inside the quotation marks, unless they belong to the sentence as a whole and not specifically to the quoted material.
Here are a few scenarios to illustrate:
1. Punctuation marks that belong to the quoted material:
- Example: She said, "I love pizza." (The comma is placed inside the quotation marks because it is part of the quoted sentence.)
- Example: The book is titled "The Catcher in the Rye." (The period is part of the book's title and is therefore placed inside the quotation marks.)
2. Punctuation marks that do not belong to the quoted material:
- Example: Did you hear him say, "I can't believe it!"? (The question mark belongs to the whole sentence and is therefore placed outside the quotation marks.)
- Example: Please read Chapter 3 of "To Kill a Mockingbird". (The period does not belong to the book title and is therefore placed outside the quotation marks.)
It's important to note that punctuation rules may vary slightly in different style guides (e.g., American English vs. British English), so it's always a good idea to consult the specific style guide you are following for more precise guidelines.