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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Have you no sense of decency?
I was looking up the famous comment by Joseph N. Welch to Senator Joe McCarthy in 1954. To my surprise, I found two versions that have the same words, but differ in their punctuation. Are they both correct, is one preferred, or is one of them wrong?
Version 1 Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?
Version 2 Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?Top answer
Hi, Both versions make sense, and I don't really see any difference in meaning. As to which is 'correct', remember that these were spoken words which were heard, written down and punctuated by the person whose job was to produce the official transcript of what was said. What you need to do is to try to determine which source is considered the official record.
- Hi, Both versions make sense, and I don't really see any difference in meaning.
- As to which is 'correct', remember that these were spoken words which were heard, written down and punctuated by the person whose job was to produce the official transcript of what was said.
- What you need to do is to try to determine which source is considered the official record.
- Best wishes, Clive
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1 Answers
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Hi,
Both versions make sense, and I don't really see any difference in meaning.
As to which is 'correct', remember that these were spoken words which were heard, written down and punctuated by the person whose job was to produce the official transcript of what was said.
What you need to do is to try to determine which source is considered the official record.
Both versions make sense, and I don't really see any difference in meaning.
As to which is 'correct', remember that these were spoken words which were heard, written down and punctuated by the person whose job was to produce the official transcript of what was said.
What you need to do is to try to determine which source is considered the official record.
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