


Each entry kicks off with a simple explanation and some basic examples before giving real-life, entertaining examples. Written by the founder of Grammar Monster, "Smashing Grammar" includes a comprehensive A-Z glossary of essential grammar terms, a detailed punctuation section, and a chapter on easily confused words. For a few years after its introduction, it seemed like the rhetorical-question mark would catch on. In the 1580s, to recognize that the rhetorical question was not a normal question, English printer Henry Denham invented the "rhetorical-question mark," which was a vertically reflected one. In Microsoft Word, there are two way to get an "upside down question mark":Ī rhetorical question is a question for which no answer is expected. In HTML (i.e., for your website), an "upside down question mark" is: In Spanish, a question is introduced with an inverted (i.e., upside down) question mark. Read more punctuation inside or outside quotation marks. When a man tells you that he got rich through hard work, ask him, "Whose?" (Don Marquis, 1878-1937).Did she say, "Have you finished?"? ( ) ( ).Did she say, "You have finished"? ( ) ( ).In the US, this is an unpopular convention.) (This is unwieldy but acceptable, particularly in the UK. In other words, it will be inside the quotation if the quotation is a question, but it will be outside if the whole sentence is a question. When used with quotation marks, a question mark follows logic.
BACKWARDS QUESTION MARK TV
Do you realize if it weren't for Edison, we'd be watching TV by candlelight? (Canadian author Al Boliska).Be sure to use a question mark for a question. Sometimes, a question feels like a statement. You can let your instinct guide you.)īe Mindful of Questions That Look Like Statements As it straddles the ideas of an imperative sentence (a command) and an interrogative sentence (a question), it is acceptable to end it with a period (full stop). Would all those in the back row who have been primed to ask a question please find a seat in the front three rows.There is a lot of leniency on whether such a sentence is ended with a question mark or a period (full stop). Often, a polite request comes in the form a question. The direct question is "Will the wether weather the weather?")Ī Polite Request Dressed Up As a Question I'm unsure whether the wether will weather the weather?.The direct question is "Have you seen the film yet?") (This is an example of an indirect question. (Here, the author is suggesting that "real" men would not find ironing therapeutic.)Īn indirect question is a question embedded inside a statement (i.e., a declarative sentence) or another question (i.e., an interrogative sentence).ĭo not use a question mark when an indirect question is embedded within a statement.

