Page 161 - Perfect English Grammar: The Indispensable Guide to Excellent Writing and Speaking

We don’t use them when we’re reporting on someone else’s question, or
directing one.

■ She asked if we had jumper cables.

■ Ask him if he knows my father.

Question marks can also appear in parenthetical items and quoted dialog.

■ “Why wait?” he asked.
■ We had the worst meal at that restaurant (right?), so why would you

want to return?

Even very long questions need question marks.

■ Do you think that even with three pairs of mittens, two layers of pants,

two hats, snow goggles, long johns, four pairs of socks, furry boots,
earmuffs, a scarf, and a heavy overcoat, you’re still going to be cold

outside?

In informal writing, question marks are often used after something the writer

doubts, but only outside the sentence and not as terminal punctuation.

■ We’ll get to the campsite before night. (?) With sp, a writer may

informally use a question mark to show uncertainty about the spelling of a
word.

■ My girlfriend loved to listen to Einstürzende Neubauten (sp?).

Another informal use of a question mark is to combine it with an
exclamation mark (see section 16.4) to show excitement and indicate a question

at the same time.

■ Did you know they’re giving away kittens in front of the grocery store?!

A common mistake is to use a question mark for a sentence in which the