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Snarf Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Guess what

I often see "guess what" written with a question mark in front of it, even though it's not a question, and, even though I know it isn't, I sometimes feel the need to put one in front of it myself; I don't know why. Is it optional to use or not use a question mark with it, or is it just wrong to write "guess what?"?

Thanks.
  

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7 Answers
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It could be argued that in some contexts it is an implied rhetorical question: "What do you think happened?"
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I guess "can you" can be implied in it, which would make it a rhetorical question; the same goes for "guess who," of course.
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Snarfeven though it's not a question,
It is meant as a question. The context will fill in the blank.

(Can you) guess what happened?
(Can you) guess what I heard?
(Can you) guess what I have?

etc.

The normal response is:
What?
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I wouldn’t use a question mark. I interpret it as a sort of imperative sentence.
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Aspara GusI wouldn’t use a question mark. I interpret it as a sort of imperative sentence.
Same here.

CJ
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For me, it's a tempest n a teapot.
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