Do You Put The Period Before Or After The Quotation

If you're writing in american style or writing fiction, the comma and period (to the extent possible) go inside the quotation marks. This rule applies even if only one quoted word ends the sentence. The fact that you use the word ‘period’ suggests you are referring to american english conventions (in the uk we say ‘full stop’).

The fact that you use the word ‘period’ suggests you are referring to american english conventions (in the uk we say ‘full stop’). Peter, however, didn’t believe him. In the united states, the rule of thumb is that commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks, and colons and semicolons (dashes as well) go outside:

In the british style, the period is placed inside the quotation marks if it is logically belongs there.

Short answer the period always goes inside the quotation marks. If you lived in great britain or in another commonwealth country, then you would place the period outside the quotation mark in the example you cited. If the question is part of the quote, the punctuation mark goes inside the quotation marks; When setting up type, requiring the period to precede the quotation marks allowed better kerning.