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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
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Punctuation error in "Eats, Shoots & Leaves"?
This doesn't arise very much these days, though, does it? I wonder why?
The second sentence, it seems to me, is not a question rhetorical or otherwise. Rather, it is a statement: "I, Lynne Truss, wonder why." As such it ought to end with a period rather than a question mark.
But perhaps I am mistaken (surely it is presumptuous of me to attempt to correct Ms. Truss!). If so, I would be happy to be enlightened.
-Alex
The second sentence, it seems to me, is not a question rhetorical or otherwise. Rather, it is a statement: "I, Lynne Truss, wonder why." As such it ought to end with a period rather than a question mark.
But perhaps I am mistaken (surely it is presumptuous of me to attempt to correct Ms. Truss!). If so, I would be happy to be enlightened.
-Alex
Top answer
[nq:1]This doesn't arise very much these days, though, does it? I wonder why? The second sentence, it seems to me, ...
- [nq:1]This doesn't arise very much these days, though, does it?
- I wonder why?
- The second sentence, it seems to me, ...
- it is presumptuous of me to attempt to correct Ms.
- ).
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110 Answers
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[nq:1]This doesn't arise very much these days, though, does it? I wonder why? The second sentence, it seems to me, ... it is presumptuous of me to attempt to correct Ms. Truss!). If so, I would be happy to be enlightened.[/nq]
I wonder about this one too. It has every appearance of being a statement and not a question, yet to me, it does also seem faintly interrogatory. I've seen it both ways
I wonder about this one too. It has every appearance of being a statement and not a question, yet to me, it does also seem faintly interrogatory. I've seen it both ways
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[nq:2]This doesn't arise very much these days, though, does it? ... Truss!). If so, I would be happy to be enlightened.[/nq]
[nq:1]I wonder about this one too. It has every appearance of being a statement and not a question, yet to me, it does also seem faintly interrogatory. I've seen it both ways in print.[/nq]
Truss is an artificial support for the insecure.
That "I wonder who?" is
[nq:1]I wonder about this one too. It has every appearance of being a statement and not a question, yet to me, it does also seem faintly interrogatory. I've seen it both ways in print.[/nq]
Truss is an artificial support for the insecure.
That "I wonder who?" is
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Alex Chun wrote on 21 Apr 2004:
[nq:1]This doesn't arise very much these days, though, does it? I wonder why? The second sentence, it seems to me, ... it is presumptuous of me to attempt to correct Ms. Truss!). If so, I would be happy to be enlightened.[/nq]
You're right. It's not a question.
Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor.
For email, ehziuh htiw rehpycrebyc ecalper.
[nq:1]This doesn't arise very much these days, though, does it? I wonder why? The second sentence, it seems to me, ... it is presumptuous of me to attempt to correct Ms. Truss!). If so, I would be happy to be enlightened.[/nq]
You're right. It's not a question.
Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor.
For email, ehziuh htiw rehpycrebyc ecalper.
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[nq:2]I wonder about this one too. It has every appearance ... seem faintly interrogatory. I've seen it both ways in print.[/nq]
[nq:1]Truss is an artificial support for the insecure. That "I wonder who?" is Dead Wrong as Dead Wrong as this would be Dead Wrong (and for exactly the same reason): I read it in either AUE or AEU, but I can't remember which?[/nq]
Here's what I wonder. Did this
[nq:1]Truss is an artificial support for the insecure. That "I wonder who?" is Dead Wrong as Dead Wrong as this would be Dead Wrong (and for exactly the same reason): I read it in either AUE or AEU, but I can't remember which?[/nq]
Here's what I wonder. Did this
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[nq:1]This doesn't arise very much these days, though, does it? I wonder why? The second sentence, it seems to me, ... statement: "I, Lynne Truss, wonder why." As such it ought to end with a period rather than a question mark.[/nq]
The question mark at the end of that "I wonder why?" is called, in English punctuation terminology, the 'Richoux Question Mark'.
Christopher
My e-mail
The question mark at the end of that "I wonder why?" is called, in English punctuation terminology, the 'Richoux Question Mark'.
Christopher
My e-mail
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[nq:1]This doesn't arise very much these days, though, does it? I wonder why? The second sentence, it seems to me, ... statement: "I, Lynne Truss, wonder why." As such it ought to end with a period rather than a question mark.[/nq]
Punctuation represents (more or less) the intonation and rhythm of speech. This could be spoken as a flat statement, or with the rising intonation of a question. If
Punctuation represents (more or less) the intonation and rhythm of speech. This could be spoken as a flat statement, or with the rising intonation of a question. If
00
[nq:2]This doesn't arise very much these days, though, does it? ... to end with a period rather than a question mark.[/nq]
[nq:1]Punctuation represents (more or less) the intonation and rhythm of speech. This could be spoken as a flat statement, or ... words don't indicate a true question. A possible interpretation is something like "I wonder why what do you think?".[/nq]
You seem to be at
[nq:1]Punctuation represents (more or less) the intonation and rhythm of speech. This could be spoken as a flat statement, or ... words don't indicate a true question. A possible interpretation is something like "I wonder why what do you think?".[/nq]
You seem to be at
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[nq:2]Truss is an artificial support for the insecure. That "I ... in either AUE or AEU, but I can't remember which?[/nq]
[nq:1]Here's what I wonder. Did this errant question mark perhaps evolve or devolve from a form that went something like this: I wonder, "why?" After all, in this sense, "wonder" means, more or less, "I ask myself."[/nq]
Hmm. But if that's what she meant, then I wonder,
[nq:1]Here's what I wonder. Did this errant question mark perhaps evolve or devolve from a form that went something like this: I wonder, "why?" After all, in this sense, "wonder" means, more or less, "I ask myself."[/nq]
Hmm. But if that's what she meant, then I wonder,
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[nq:2]This doesn't arise very much these days, though, does it? ... to end with a period rather than a question mark.[/nq]
[nq:1]The question mark at the end of that "I wonder why?" is called, in English punctuation terminology, the 'Richoux Question Mark'.[/nq]
I vaguely remember you mentioning that somewhere before, but I have no idea why or when? (sic)
Ross Howard
[nq:1]The question mark at the end of that "I wonder why?" is called, in English punctuation terminology, the 'Richoux Question Mark'.[/nq]
I vaguely remember you mentioning that somewhere before, but I have no idea why or when? (sic)
Ross Howard
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[nq:2]Punctuation represents (more or less) the intonation and rhythm of ... something like "I wonder why what do you think?".[/nq]
[nq:1]You seem to be attempting to justify a glaring solecism that most elementary-level EFL students would quickly catch, and I don't really understand why? (sic)[/nq]
In my experience the vast majority of copy editors would apply a question mark there
[nq:1]You seem to be attempting to justify a glaring solecism that most elementary-level EFL students would quickly catch, and I don't really understand why? (sic)[/nq]
In my experience the vast majority of copy editors would apply a question mark there
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