In this context and others like it, is the word “read” meant to be a command or a passive statement? Does it mean: You (implied) read it as scolded, or This word is read as scolded? This may seem trivial but it has bothered me for quite some time. In other words, when you see this, in your head do you say it as “reed” or “red?” (By the way, wouldn’t it make more sense to put the question mark outside of the parenthesis in this case? Am I allowed to do that? Have I gone mad?)
It’s the latter (“this word is read as ‘scolded’”).
Rhymes with “red.”
As for your second question, question marks, periods and commas either go inside or outside the quotation marks depending on style. I believe inside the quotation marks is the usual American style, and the Brits have begun putting them outside.
The question mark belongs outside the quotation marks (I assume that you meant “quotation marks” instead of “parenthesis”), since it is punctuating the sentence and not the quoted word. Leaving the question mark inside the quotation marks is incorrect here.
British and American usage differ regarding periods and commas in relation to quotation marks, but they are consistent regarding question marks. American usage places a period or comma inside the quotation marks, and British usage places it outside (and has for a long time: the British have not just “begun putting them outside”). But both American and British usage place a question mark inside or outside the quotation marks, depending on its relation to the quoted matter. The following “rules” describe American usage; British usage differs on Rule 1, but is the same on Rules 2-3:
i’m going to go with JeffB. i think it is supposed to be pronounced “reed”.
i’m an extremely lousy grammarian, so my explanation may be very wrong, but i think it has to do with active and passive voises.
Active: Read (reed) this word as “abcdef”.
Passive: This word is read (red) as “abcdef”.
Since active is preferred over passive, “reed” is the more accepted version.
Aasna, go back and read (reed) the explanation again.
Quoting Merriam-Webster Online, Brian said:
An imperative is a directive – a subtle order, if you wish. You don’t say to your child, "Go “red” a book. You say, “Go “reed” a book.” Also, “rEd” means that the e is long – as in reed.
I’m a retired teacher who makes plenty of mistakes. So feel free to knock that red pencil out of my hand and slap me around until I remember that I don’t have to do that sort of thing anymore. :smack:
I’m all over the imperative pronunciation, myself. Like, say, white on rice. But on white rice, not that granola brown stuff. That stuff’s too chewy.
As I understand it, the British (and Canadian!) punctuation isn’t so much “always on the outside” as “where it makes sense”. If the piece being quoted contained the punctuation, then include the punctuation in the quote. If you’re adding punctuation to the end of the quote to fit it into your sentence, then it goes outside. You’ll note I quoted ‘“where it makes sense”.’, not ‘“where it makes sense,”’, to make it grammatically parallel with the first quoted part of the sentence. Similarly the quoting in that last sentence has some interesting contortions.
what, a girl isn’t allowed to make a mistake around here?! sheesh…
brianmelendez, thanks for the links. the Jane Straus site was rather basic. UCalgary was better. but would you happen to know of an actual book? something more advanced, perhaps?
The best book that I know of with exercises is The King’s English by the Fowler brothers. The book is almost a century old, but stands the test of time well:
I also highly recommend Harper’s English Grammar by John B. Opdycke, which contains no exercises but does offer clear, thorough explanations and exhaustive examples; and The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, which also contains no exercises but lays out clear, readable advice for correct grammar, style, and usage.
