Re: periods inside quotation marks?

[David Warren <David -dot- Warren -at- NEXTEL -dot- COM>]

     In this case, the quote marks signal emphasis (as if to a typesetter)
     and not quotation of speech--in this case denoting the name of an
     interface object.

     (Just like the old two-spaces-mark-the-end-of-a-sentence rule for
     typewriting...when typeset only a single space is used (plus or minus
     any word spacing used for line-fitting reasons.))

     That the help software cannot apply a bold or italic typestyle is not
     your problem.  Or is it...are you *sure* it cannot support styled
     text?

     David T. Warren
     Pubs. Mgr., Nextel Communications ESD

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: periods inside quotation marks?
Author:  Shannon White <shannonwhite -at- YAHOO -dot- COM> at INTERNET
Date:    6/9/98 8:37 AM


I am doing online Help for an application that has several buttons
that use odd terminology.  The interface design (due to egos) will not
be changed, so I have to make do.

Question:  in referring to a button, where does the punctuation go?

Example:  If the name of the button is Remove, do I use show the
command as

1.  Click "Remove."
OR
1.  Click "Remove".

I know that sentence rules say punctuation goes inside the quotation
marks, but here I am emphasizing the button name and not an actual
quote.

If you think you have it figured out, here is the kicker.  I have
several buttons that use punctuation within the button name, such as
Modify. . .

Then, would I use

1.  Click "Modify. . . ."

OR

1.  Click "Modify. . .".

I am bound by screen design and the requirement to put the button in
quotation marks.  My only question is, where does the ending period
go?  For clearest communication, it would seem to go outside the marks
since the buttons do NOT contain the ending period.

Please, sway me one way or the other.

Thanks,

     Shannon White