Question Mark
Question Mark
Question Mark
?" redirects here. For the backwards or mirrored question mark used to indicate irony or
sarcasm, see percontation point. For other uses, see ? (disambiguation).
The question mark [ ? ] (also known as interrogation point, query, or eroteme in journalism)[1] is
a punctuation mark that indicates an interrogative clause or phrase in many languages. The question
mark is not used for indirect questions. The question mark glyph is also often used in place of
missing or unknown data. In Unicode, it is encoded at U+003F ? QUESTION MARK (HTML ? ).
2. Use the question mark to turn a statement into a question. This denotes that the
speaker is assuming or hoping for a certain reply.
3. Use the question mark in statements ending with a word inflected as a query and with
question tags.
4. Use the question mark after a direct question which is inserted into a statement. If the
question comes at the end, separate it with a comma. Capitalization of the question
after the comma is used for extreme emphasis but is rarely recommended.
Her boss wondered, Was she really doing her job the best she could?
[Question capitalized for extreme emphasis]
The question was, was she really doing the best she could?
[Question not capitalized recommended]
5. If the inserted question comes in the beginning, put the question mark in the middle
but do not capitalize the word following it.
Was she really doing her job the best she could? Her boss wondered.
Was she really doing the best she could? was the question.
6. When writing a series of questions, use a question mark for each item, even if items
are not complete sentences. Capitalization of the question items is optional so be
consistent with whatever option you choose.
The board members had to decide on a new course of action for the company. Expand?
Sell out? Consider new financial reforms?
Pay attention!
7. Do not use a question mark in statements that contain indirect questions (written as
declarative sentences).
No: Her boss wondered whether she was really doing her job the best she could?
Yes: Her boss wondered whether she was really doing her job the best she could.
1. Use a question mark with a mild command or polite request instead of a period that
would make the request more demanding.
Would you take these reports down to accounting?
[Polite request It would be nice if you do.]
Would you pass me the salt, please. Vs. Would you please pass me the salt?
If you will follow me, please.
Analysis! When the above rhetorical question is used with different punctuation marks,
the rhetoric implication is altered (as shown in the brackets). This demonstrates the
emotional effect punctuation marks may have in a text.
2. To avoid using (?) for expressing uncertainty, consider using the word about.
Joan of Arc, born about 1412 1431, is considered a French heroine.
1. Do not use a comma after a question mark occurring in the middle of a sentence.
"You didn't actually agree to that offer?" her boss asked incredulously.
2. Do not use a period after a question mark occurring in the end of a sentence, even if
followed by quotation marks.
Did you actually take that offer?
3. When a question mark follows a quoted text, put it before the closing quotation mark
if it applies just to the quoted text. Put the question mark outside the closing quotation
mark if it applies to the entire sentence.
Do you think it would be better in this case to stick to the attitude of "what's in it for me?
[Entire sentence in question]
4. When a question mark is used with parenthesis, put it inside the parenthesis if the
enclosed sentence stands alone. When the parenthesis enclose just part of a sentence,
put the question mark outside the parenthesis. Always add another terminal punctuation
mark to the end of the sentence.
For months, she stayed in extra hours to complete the project (Was she that eager to
get promoted?).
[Question mark inside the parenthesis, enclosed text is a stand alone sentence]
Did she really stay in extra hours to complete the project (despite being denied of a
promotion)?
[Question mark outside the parenthesis, enclosed text is part of a sentence]
3. Don't forget to use a question mark at the end of a sentence that really is a
direct question:
In the same situation, they may use two or three question marks together to show
that they are not sure about something:
The teacher asked them what their names were. (What are your names?)
John asked Mary if she loved him. (Do you love me?)
I'm wondering if she's coming. (Is she coming?)
6. Many polite requests or instructions are made in the form of a question. But
because they are not really questions, they do not take a question mark:
7. Be careful with titles and abbreviations when question marks are involved: