Can you put a dash after a question mark?

Question

Can you put a dash after a question mark?Example:What else could he do? — to keep faith, as near as might be, with both sides.

GPY · Accepted Answer

I see this is another sentence from The Lord of the Rings. As well as the puctuation being non-standard to my eyes, ~~the sentence doesn't totally make sense to me. I can only guess that it should mean "What else could he do but keep faith, as near as might be, with both sides?".~~

Sorry, ignore this ... see below.

Daithy · Answer

Yes, it is

, The Two Towers. I have always wondered how to combine a question with a dash, and then I came across this sentence. Let me contrive a simple example:

Do you get scared watching horror movies — considering you watch them by yourself?

OR (as Tolkien wrote)

Do you get scared watching horror movies? — considering you watch them by yourself.

Clive · Answer

To my mind, these are good examples of how dashes often result in unclear meaning.<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/9.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/9.gif' alt='Emotion: crying'/>

GPY · Answer

Sorry, ignore the second part of my previous response -- I wasn't thinking straight. Apart from the question of the punctuation, the sentence does make sense OK.

DaithyDo you get scared watching horror movies — considering you watch them by yourself?OR (as Tolkien wrote)Do you get scared watching horror movies? — considering you watch them by yourself.

I would only use the first one. The second one seems non-standard to me in the same way that the original sentence does. Punctuation styles do change over time, and Tolkein was born in 1892 after all.

Daithy · Answer

So you're saying that both examples are misused, Clive. What is the correct use?

Daithy · Answer

So I should be safe with the first one so. You see, I have always tried to avoid a dash in an interrogativesentence, for this specific reason. Then I saw it in LotR, and it just looked weird to me, so I came here to check it.

Clive · Answer

I would just use a comma.

On the other hand, I have to admit that Tolkien is a bit more successful as a writer than I am!

Daithy · Answer

I would just use a comma.

On the other hand, I have to admit that Tolkien is a bit more successful as a writer than I am!

. Fair enough, Clive. However, you seem to be missing the point. The question isn't about preference or modification; but about whether it is correct to use a dash after a question mark; subsequently, is it okay to use it within an interrogative sentence and end the sentence with a question-mark.

Clive · Answer

Fair enough, Clive. However, you seem to be missing the point. I often do.
The question isn't about preference or modification; but about whether it is correct to use a dash after a question mark; subsequently, is it okay to use it within an interrogative sentence and end the sentence with a question-mark.

Do you get scared watching horror movies? — considering you watch them by yourself. A fundamental rule of punctuation is that a question mark has to come at the end of a sentence. If not, the reader is left unclear as to what the exact question is.

Do you get scared watching horror movies — considering you watch them by yourself? Please allow me to rant a little. Overall, my opinion of this is that people who use dashes are moving into an area where they can make up their own rules of punctuation and meaning. When I read this example, I wonder why he used a dash instead of a comma and what meaning I am missing. Such thoughts confuse me.
I know that some people disagree with my sentiments, but I scorn them as mere dash-lovers!

[ I find it hard to believe that Tolkien wrote about horror movies in LOTR. I don't remember that part. ]

Clive

Daithy · Answer

Do you get scared watching horror movies? — considering you watch them by yourself. A fundamental rule of punctuation is that a question mark has to come at the end of a sentence. If not, the reader is left unclear as to what the exact question is.

Yes, exactly, so why did Tolkien do otherwise: "What else could he do? — to keep faith, as near as might be, with both sides."

Please allow me to rant a little. Overall, my opinion of this is that people who use dashes are moving into an area where they can make up their own rules of punctuation and meaning. When I read this example, I wonder why he used a dash instead of a comma and what meaning I am missing. Such thoughts confuse me.
I know that some people disagree with my sentiments, but I scorn them as mere dash-lovers!

You aren't only limited to commas: you can use an em-dash too, especially when you want extra emphasis. You could be scorn as a comma lover, too. Nobody likes a paragraph over-crammed with commas. Each to their own.

I find it hard to believe that Tolkien wrote about horror movies in LOTR. I don't remember that part.

I never said he did

.

Can you put a dash after a question mark?

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