Interpretation is key

rules about punctuation and quotation marks

Punctuation goes inside the quotation marks. I.e. Mary said, "I like you a lot!" This is the way I was taught in a course on basic editing practices at university.

He says there is some difference between England & U.S. practices. There may be but can't vouch for that.

I also use different writing techniques depending on the situation. Here, I write as if I am speaking. With business correspondence I stick to the rules.