If I wanted to cite a question in MLA, but use it as a statement, how would I change the punctuation?
For example, would I change the sentence
Does it not occur to you that this is the first time we two, you and I, husband and wife, have had a serious conversation?
to
…this is the first time, we two, you and I, husband and wife, have had a serious conversation[.]
Answer
MLA says the following on quotes:
Unless indicated in square brackets or parentheses, changes must not be made in the spelling, capitalization, or interior punctuation of the source.
The terminal question mark is external punctuation, so you don’t need to indicate that it’s missing.
At the end of a sentence ending with something in double quotes, you don’t need to indicate that you’re adding a period, even though you’re doing so inside the quotes. See here for more info.
Attribution
Source : Link , Question Author : programmer1 , Answer Author : Laurel