Question

The pitcher's mound is referred to as "the bump", "the mound", but hardly ever as "the pitchers mound". Do those commas and the period go inside the quotes?

Answer 1

Didn't think so, but someone argued that commas ALWAYS go inside quotation marks. I countered that's only true for direct quotes. Thanks.

Answer 2

Grammarbook.com says they go inside. Still doesn't seem right to me.

Answer 3

To clear things up:

~ Commas and periods go INSIDE the quotes, unless the part in the quotes is a single letter, or a number. For example:
The only grade that will satisfy her is an "A".
or
On this scale, the highest ranking is a "1", not a "10".

~ On the other hand, question marks and explanation points go OUTSIDE the quotes, unless it is part of the quote. For example:
Have you read the assigned short story, "Flowering Judas"?
No, but I did finally get around to reading last week's assignment, "Where Are They Now?"

So, in the example you give, the commas and periods should go INSIDE the quotes, like this:
The pitcher's mound is referred to as "the bump," or "the mound," but hardly ever as "the pitcher's mound."

Answer 4

I've searched it up and resources show that they go inside the quote, so @Peeps is correct.

Answer 5

Excellent. Thanks for the clarification. But upon further thought, I wonder if the following isn't preferable? The pitcher's mound is referred to as the bump, or the mound, but hardly ever as "the pitcher's mound."

Answer 6

Sorry, meant with bump and the first occurrence of mound italicized.

Answer 7

You know, I'm not sure you really need the quotes, at all. Maybe it can be like this...?
The pitcher's mound is rarely called that; it is more often referred to as simply the bump, or the mound.