The correct use of ? and "

Question

The following sentences seem wrong to me. Please correct, if necessary.

In the sixth chapter and sixth verse, Job asked an interesting question, "Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?"

and
"No!"

"Satisfy your mouth with good things."

I can't remember if the ?, !, or . are placed in the quotation mark or outside. Please help me. I am typing a forward for a church recipe book dictated by my pastor.

Miriam · Accepted Answer

Hello, momo

I don't see anything wrong with your sentences.

If you are quoting a question or an exclamation, it makes sense to place the question mark/exclamation mark inside the quotation marks:

John asked me, "are you coming to the party?"

As for the inclusion of commas and periods, there seems to be some debate about it, and you will probably get different answers from different people.
One thing I can tell you is that if there are punctuation marks in the sentences you quote, they should be respected and put inside the quotation marks.

Miriam

Momo · Answer

Thank you Miriam for your comments.  I am still confused about the first ? before or in the sentence submitted. Is it correct to have two ? in the sentence? Please reply.

Miriam · Answer

You're welcome, Momo

As I said, though, you will surely get more responses about this.

If you're referring to the following:

In the sixth chapter and sixth verse, Job asked an interesting question, "Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?"

and if the questions are Job's actual words which you are quoting, then the question marks go inside the quotation marks. The sentence is ok as it is.

I hope I didn't misunderstand your question.

Miriam

Momo · Answer

Thanks again. I just thought the use of two ? in a sentence was incorrect. I'll leave it as is.

Miriam · Answer

Momo,
I'm afraid I expressed myself incorrectly in my response to you. I've only just seen what you meant by two question marks in the same sentence!

since you have two question marks, I considered the questions as being separate: two questions. Each question mark is like a period and marks the end of the sentence.

I don't know what the original text says, but I think it would be safe to copy it as it is.

Anyway, and if you can take some liberties with the text, you would have two possibilities:

1. If you consider two separate questions, a question mark at the end of each one is correct. Notice that you will need to start your second question with a capital letter in this case:
"Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?"

2. If, on the other hand, you consider you have only one question, then you don't use the first question mark:
"Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the white of an egg?"

I'm sorry, I did misunderstand. I see what you meant now, and you are right: if you have only one question, then you use only one question mark, at the end of it.

Miriam

The correct use of ? and "

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