Quote:
Originally Posted by GibbinR
Most Gutenberg texts have outer double quotes, and related punctuation inside fragment quotes. I am increasingly suspecting that it would be more authentic (for English authors) to invert this to outer single quotes and related punctuation outside fragment quotes?
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Yes, it is a typesetting tradition that British publishers use single quotes (at first level), and American publishers use double quotes. I guess there are other differences, as in whether a comma comes necessarily inside the quote or it depens on the context. But this could be publisher-dependent too.
Project Gutenberg contributors may have decided to change single quotes to double quotes, or vice-versa.
I always try to get the "original" spelling and punctuation, at least regarding the British/American differences. For this, I try to locate a scanned copy from the right side of the pond, and check the differences, if any, from the source text. Then I make the appropriate changes... but I apply my own tastes and preferences too
