# punctuation for the title of a document in quotes, with reference (need answer fast) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 26, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punctuation-for-the-title-of-a-document-in-quotes-with-reference-need-answer-fast/718591 "2015-04-26T18:45:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punctuation-for-the-title-of-a-document-in-quotes-with-reference-need-answer-fast/718591/1 "2015-04-26T18:45:29Z")
Struggling to figure out how to arrange these components. I have the title of a document, in quotes. The title ends with a question mark, but it’s being mentioned in a declarative sentence. In addition, there is a superscripted reference number referring to that document. So the sentence (right now) looks something like this: **I also had a role in “This Is The Name Of My Document?”.[sup]15[/sup]** Given that the question mark is a part of the title of that referenced document, should the period be in there with it? Should the period be present at all? The superscripted reference should come after the final punctuation, correct? ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punctuation-for-the-title-of-a-document-in-quotes-with-reference-need-answer-fast/718591/2 "2015-04-26T19:26:05Z")
> [@](#): > > If a statement ends in a quoted question, allow the question mark within the quotation marks suffice to end the sentence. > •Malcolm X had the courage to ask the younger generation of American blacks, “What did we do, who preceded you?” > > On the other hand, if a question ends with a quoted statement that is not a question, the question mark will go outside the closing quotation mark. > • Who said, “Fame means when your computer modem is broken, the repair guy comes out to your house a little faster”? From [here](http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/quotation.htm). ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punctuation-for-the-title-of-a-document-in-quotes-with-reference-need-answer-fast/718591/3 "2015-04-26T20:54:33Z")
I would say that the OP is correct for the example given. I would expect the article’s title to be regarded as a title, not a question, and would enclose the whole title in quotes. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punctuation-for-the-title-of-a-document-in-quotes-with-reference-need-answer-fast/718591/4 "2015-04-26T21:39:38Z")
But is the ending period needed? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punctuation-for-the-title-of-a-document-in-quotes-with-reference-need-answer-fast/718591/5 "2015-04-27T00:05:29Z")
I would put in the period. I looked for a title that ended in a question mark being cited, but I did not find one. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punctuation-for-the-title-of-a-document-in-quotes-with-reference-need-answer-fast/718591/6 "2015-04-27T00:18:01Z")
Hmm - just thinking about titles, they pretty much _don’t_ have ending punctuation, so I would leave the period off. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punctuation-for-the-title-of-a-document-in-quotes-with-reference-need-answer-fast/718591/7 "2015-04-27T07:33:48Z")
Professional copy editor here. I’m in bed now, so I’m not going to look this up, but I’m pretty sure that most major style guides would say that the period is not necessary. The question mark serves both functions. I certainly wouldn’t use it in my publication. ---
**Author:** ![RadicalPi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/radicalpi/32/9806_2.png) [@RadicalPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadicalPi)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punctuation-for-the-title-of-a-document-in-quotes-with-reference-need-answer-fast/718591/8 "2015-04-27T19:51:09Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > I would say that the OP is correct for the example given. I would expect the article’s title to be regarded as a title, not a question, and would enclose the whole title in quotes. > [@commasense](#): > > Professional copy editor here. I’m in bed now, so I’m not going to look this up, but I’m pretty sure that most major style guides would say that the period is not necessary. The question mark serves both functions. I certainly wouldn’t use it in my publication. In the case at hand, you do not add another ending punctuation mark. To quote APA style (but the others would be the same, at least in the United States): > [@](#): > > 1. If a reference title ends in an exclamation point or question mark, this mark takes the place of the period that would have otherwise appeared after the title. These marks are stronger than the period and take its place. So, for your example, we get: **I had a role in “This Is The Name Of My Document?”[SUP]15[/SUP]** ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punctuation-for-the-title-of-a-document-in-quotes-with-reference-need-answer-fast/718591/9 "2015-04-27T20:45:18Z")
> [@jimbuff314](#): > > Hmm - just thinking about titles, they pretty much _don’t_ have ending punctuation, so I would leave the period off. Your link states the same – way down there someplace. So it’s unanimous, except for tomnddebb.