The Great Wall Part II

[Burgbud]

Alpha men are secure and do not need to prove themselves by d!cking about with grammar and spelling.

Agreed, in general. But to me, the meaning of sentences is clearer when quotation marks enclose what they're supposed to and not associated punctuation, so that's how I write. If the quotes contain an actual quotation then I use the standard rule. If the quotes are setting off a word or phrase, then I don't.

Therefore I would write: She quietly stated, "You're a nutball," then resumed her discussion with the meadowlark.

But I would also write: Which only proved *she* was the nutball and by "nutball" I mean "borderline psychotic".

Them's that don't like it are free to complain.