0
Ryansamturner Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

When to use a Question Mark?

My proofreader advises that I don't require a question mark on the following sentences as they are not strictly 'questions', but I just wanted to check other peoples opinions.

‘I take it you want to rest just now.’ *(Question mark after 'now'?)*
‘Yes, I do.’

‘I’m going to do it now then – as long as you’re sure you don’t mind. ’ *(Question mark after 'mind'?)*
‘Nope, I don’t care. You do what you like.’

‘I just need to hand in this prescription. It’s for my wife. I hope that’s okay. ’ *(Question mark after 'okay'?)*
‘Sure, let’s have a look.’

‘I take it they’re for a female.' *(Question mark after 'female'?)*
‘Yeah, they’re for my wife.
  

Top answer

)* No. ryansamturner ‘I’m going to do it now then – as long as you’re sure you don’t mind. )* No.

— Mister Micawber

  • )* No.
  • ryansamturner ‘I’m going to do it now then – as long as you’re sure you don’t mind.
  • )* No.
  • ryansamturner ‘I just need to hand in this prescription.
  • It’s for my wife.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

7 Answers
0
ryansamturnerI take it you want to rest just now.’ *(Question mark after 'now'?)*
No.
ryansamturner‘I’m going to do it now then – as long as you’re sure you don’t mind. ’ *(Question mark after 'mind'?)*
No.
ryansamturner‘I just need to hand in this prescription. It’s for my wife. I hope that’s okay. ’
0
0
Thanks.

Who am I to doubt my proofreader,

I knew she'd be right.
0
0
I agree with Mr Micawber's last comment. I think all of these work either with a question mark or without. It just depends on how they were intoned (or how you visualise that they would be intoned) -- whether as a statement or a question.
0
0
But grammatically speaking, it would be wrong to use a question mark, wouldn't it?
0
0
ryansamturnerBut grammatically speaking, it would be wrong to use a question mark, wouldn't it?
No. In dialogue (especially), a question mark can be put after almost any statement in order to give it a questioning tone.
0
0
Thanks for the response.

I'm pretty torn about which route I want to go down...

How will I decide...?
0
0
ryansamturnerI'm pretty torn about which route I want to go down...How will I decide...?
If you think the speaker is iusing a questioning intonation, use a question mark, If you don't, don't.
0

Related Questions