Questions about the question mark (?) that appears at the end of questions.
21
votes
4answers
1k views
How should I punctuate around quotes?
The American convention in quotations is (typically) to place punctuation inside quoted text. But I always run into situations where the punctuation of the quote interferes with the punctuation of the ...
30
votes
8answers
8k views
Is there a standard ordering for the question mark and the exclamation mark used together?
We've all wanted to express certain questions, rhetorical or not, with annoyance, excitement, surprise, frustration and so on. What better way than with both a question mark (?) and an exclamation ...
16
votes
3answers
6k views
Is it ever correct to have a space before a question or exclamation mark?
In written English (mainly online) I often come across sentences ending with a question or an exclamation mark with a space before it. Is it always just an error or a typo? Or there are cases when it ...
7
votes
4answers
5k views
Where does the question mark go — inside or outside the parentheses?
I know that when brackets enclose part of a sentence, the full stop goes outside.
I tripped over this morning. I was distracted by a plane (which turned out to be Superman).
If it's a full ...
8
votes
5answers
744 views
Is it OK to add a question mark to show inflection?
When asking a question you generally have to raise your voice at the end of the sentence, is it okay to stuff a question mark in order to show inflection?
A couple examples:
'That really happened?'
...
6
votes
4answers
696 views
Is the question mark misused in affirmative sentences?
For example, I found the following sentence written by a native English speaker (UK) so I'm going to assume that he knows how to put it the right way, although I wouldn't use this form.
I now have ...
10
votes
3answers
1k views
Quoting a question at the end of a sentence which is itself a question
If my sentence is a question and ends with a quote of a question, where exactly do I put a question mark?
Did she ask, "Is it raining"?
Did she ask, "Is it raining?"?
Did she ask, "Is it ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
Position of question mark when sentence doesn't end with question
This is something that has always bugged me. I am never sure where to place the question mark, or whether to place it at all when the end of the sentence does not finish with a question, or a number ...
5
votes
5answers
1k views
When is it appropriate to end a question without a question mark?
Basically, if I ask a rhetorical question, it's not really prompting for an answer. Does that mean it should not end in a question mark?
Here are two examples:
"What's New" used as a title for a ...
6
votes
1answer
872 views
Question mark usage/position when sentence ends with a declarative quotation?
Who said "I am hungry?"
The quotation is not a question, but do I put "my" question mark there anyway?
This is related to, but not the same as Position of question mark when sentence doesn't ...
3
votes
0answers
73 views
If a question ends in the abbreviation of et cetera, do you still add the period before the question mark? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When “etc.” is at the end of a phrase, do you place a period after it?
Example:
How do I pay for the bananas, oranges, etc.?
or
How do I pay for the bananas, ...
2
votes
2answers
3k views
Punctuation with “The question is…” '.', '?' or ' “… ?” ' [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Position of question mark when sentence doesn't end with question
Take this statement for example:
That's not the question. The question is what was Colonel ...
5
votes
2answers
10k views
When do I use a question mark with “Could you [please] …”
A sentence like
Could you please pass me the pepper shaker
is not really a question. Should I use a question mark or a period to end this sentence? What about:
Could you let me know when ...
5
votes
1answer
414 views
Using Multiple Sentence Stoppers? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is there a standard ordering for the question mark and the exclamation mark used together?
When writing an exclamation-question like:
What you you mean, I'm fired
...
3
votes
2answers
143 views
Punctuation following an interruption with a dash
I am not sure what the correct punctuation to use when ending a clause that was introduced with a dash when the next character in the main sentence is a punctuation mark.
Take the following contrived ...
1
vote
1answer
166 views
Where do we put the question mark in a long question/statement?
Without the question mark, it is simple...
Can we make it in one hour — as I want to eat my dinner now.
(I like the dash as a clear separator for the question and statement parts of the ...
1
vote
2answers
751 views
How to punctuate a quoted rhetorical interrogative sentence that ends a declarative sentence?
Below is the sentence I am writing. I am not sure whether I should just end it with an interrogation mark within the quotes, with a period within the quotes, no in-quote punctuation except ...
