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David Hatton Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Question marks after 'would you...'

'When you have the chance, please would you open the window as I’m very hot?'
Given that the 'question', such as it is, is being followed by an explanatory statement, I feel the question mark to be somewhat superfluous. Would you feel it technically necessary, or even correct in this instance?
  

Top answer

David Hatton would you "would you" is the interrogative inversion of the declarative "you would", so the form of the main clause of the sentence is interrogative. I'd say that deserves a question mark. CJ

— CalifJim

  • David Hatton would you "would you" is the interrogative inversion of the declarative "you would", so the form of the main clause of the sentence is interrogative.
  • I'd say that deserves a question mark.
  • CJ
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3 Answers
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David Hattonwould you
"would you" is the interrogative inversion of the declarative "you would", so the form of the main clause of the sentence is interrogative. I'd say that deserves a question mark.
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Chicago Manual of Style suggests a request courteously disguised as a question doesn't need a question mark, and with the 'as I'm hot' statement at the end, it just feels wrong to me.
I agree that the inversion of 'you would' suggests interrogative and a question mark but does it really feel like a question by the time the sentence ends?
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I think you should put a period at the end if you feel strongly about it. I find it difficult to evaluate because I can't imagine myself saying all that just to get a window open.
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