Proper Use of the Question Mark: When You Should Use It, When You Shouldn’t
Using a question mark can be tricky when a question isn’t clear cut.
The question mark is usually thought of as one of the easier punctuation marks to use; however, situations arise where writers wonder whether they should use a question mark or not. This article discusses proper use of the question mark.
The Question Mark and Direct Questions
A question mark is used when asking a direct question: How are you? This is straight forward . . . however, as with most things grammar-related, tricky issues arise when things aren’t so clear cut.
What about when a question occurs in the middle of a sentence? Where should the question mark then be placed? Should it appear mid-sentence or at the end? The question mark should follow a direct question, mid-sentence:
- Was it worth the hassle? she wondered.
- The question, how can the two ever reconcile? was on everyone’s mind.
Proper Use of the Question Mark and Indirect Questions
The use of the question mark also becomes tricky when indirect questions are used. The question mark should not be included in sentences such as the following:
- How the couple could have survived was the question on everyone’s mind.
The Question Mark and One-Word Questions
When a question in a sentence comprises one or two words, such as who, what, when, why or how, the question mark may be omitted and the words italicized:
- The question was no longer where but why.
A single word can be left as is:
- He asked himself why.
Proper Use of the Question Mark and Courtesy Questions
A request disguised as a question doesn’t usually require a question mark:
- Would you respond by the end of December.
- Will all rise.
Question Marks and Quotation Marks, Parentheses, and Brackets
A question mark is placed inside quotation, parentheses and brackets, only when it is part of the quoted or parenthetical material:
- She asked, “Where are you going?”
But, when a question is not:
- Why was she trembling when she said, “I’m not nervous” ?
Question Marks and Internal Monologue
Stella (had I met her before?) winked at me coyly.
A Question Mark Shows Editorial Doubt
Edsel Keeting (1902?-1960) rose to fame rapidly.
It is important to understand the subtle differences in questions and how they appear in sentences so you employ proper use of question marks.
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June 6th, 2009 at 3:42 am
Great to learn. Thanks
June 6th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Hi Pinaki,
It can be tricky when grammar issues aren’t clear cut.
June 6th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Thanks.
Inna
June 6th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Thanks for the grammar lesson/ refresher!
June 8th, 2009 at 7:15 am
Hello Everyone,
I’ve tried incorporating italics into this article to demonstrate one of the points above but the Online Editor will not format accordingly.
The sentence above: “The question was no longer where but why” should have shown the words “where” and “why” italicized. This is how I formatted them.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
I never thought much about the question mark. Thanks for the article.
February 10th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
I own a court reporting agency and am constantly confronted with new reporters doing something that I either don’t think is correct but am not certain and cannot find verification. Example: Q When I use the phrase, “Did you have any similar symptoms,” because I’m going through your history and I’m going to use that phrase, “Did you have similar symptoms that you are complaining of from Gardner,” and those are the symptoms I’m referencing.
Should there be a question mark after those obvious questions being quoted within that sentence — or not? Sorry for the long example. Bob McCann