Dictionary

logical punctuation en · NOUN

Meanings

1. (uncountable) Synonym of logical quotation.
   • [S]ince at least the 1960s a common designation for that style has been "logical punctuation." ... [T]he vast majority of the legion of logical punctuators are not consciously rejecting illogical American style, or consciously imitating the British. ... [D]espite the love it gets from the masses, logical punctuation isn't likely to break through to the rule-keepers any time soon. 2011 May 12, Ben Yagoda, “The Rise of 'Logical Punctuation'. The period outside the quotation marks is not a copy error.”, in Slate, Washington, DC, US: Washington Post Company, retrieved 23 Oct 2011:
   • [The American] system is inconsistent: Place commas and periods inside quotation marks, but semicolons and colons go outside. Em dashes, question marks, and exclamation points go inside or outside depending on whether they’re part of the context of the quoted material (shades of logical punctuation). 2011, Mark Nichol, “Logical Punctuation Isn’t the Logical Choice”, in Daily Writing Tips, retrieved 04 Sep 2015:
   • The debate about "logical punctuation" suggests two things. First, there is nothing very logical about it. As with so many aspects of language, what you use tends to be the result of a battle between what you were taught, and what you like the look of. Second, British and American English have more in common than people sometimes think. 2011 May 19, David Marsh, “'The British style'? 'The American way?' They are not so different”, in The Guardian, London: Guardian Media Group, retrieved 24 Sep 2015:

Synonyms

logical quotation