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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
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Which sentence is correct?
Which of these two sentences is correct? I have friends that are divided over this. If it matters, the sentence starts a paragraph.
Version #1: The reason I am writing to you today is to ask if your company would be willing to be the fund?s patron?
Version #2: The reason I am writing to you today is to ask if your company would be willing to be the fund?s patron.
Some of my friends and I believe v.2 is the correct one because it is an unspoken question and not a direct question. My other friends say v.1 is correct as it is a question ... unspoken or not ... and thus needing a question mark to end it.
Scott Jensen
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Version #1: The reason I am writing to you today is to ask if your company would be willing to be the fund?s patron?
Version #2: The reason I am writing to you today is to ask if your company would be willing to be the fund?s patron.
Some of my friends and I believe v.2 is the correct one because it is an unspoken question and not a direct question. My other friends say v.1 is correct as it is a question ... unspoken or not ... and thus needing a question mark to end it.
Scott Jensen
Like a cure for A.I.D.S., Alzheimer, Parkinson, & Mad Cow Disease? Volunteer your computer for folding-protein research for when it's idle. Go to http://tinyurl.com/6fsdg to sign up your computer.
Top answer
Or is both acceptable and thus it is merely personal perference on which you use? Scott Jensen
- Or is both acceptable and thus it is merely personal perference on which you use?
- Scott Jensen
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11 Answers
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Or is both acceptable and thus it is merely personal perference on which you use?
Scott Jensen
Scott Jensen
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[nq:1]Or is both acceptable...[/nq]
That should have been "Or are both acceptable..." Normally I'd let this sort of thing slide but since this is an English language newsgroup...
Scott Jensen
That should have been "Or are both acceptable..." Normally I'd let this sort of thing slide but since this is an English language newsgroup...
Scott Jensen
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[nq:1]Which of these two sentences is correct? I have friends that are divided over this. If it matters, the sentence ... correct as it is a question ... unspoken or not ... and thus needing a question mark to end it.[/nq]
The second is the correct version since it's an indirect question.
Regards, Einde O'Callaghan
The second is the correct version since it's an indirect question.
Regards, Einde O'Callaghan
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[nq:1]Or is both acceptable and thus it is merely personal perference on which you use? Scott Jensen[/nq]
That should be "are both".
Regards, Einde O'Callaghan
That should be "are both".
Regards, Einde O'Callaghan
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einde. ocallaghan wrote on 15 Dec 2004:
[nq:2]Which of these two sentences is correct? I have friends ... ... and thus needing a question mark to end it.[/nq]
[nq:1]The second is the correct version since it's an indirect question.[/nq]
Yes, but it's a bit verbose ("The reason I am writing to you today is") and might be better if it were simply "I wonder whether your company would be w
[nq:2]Which of these two sentences is correct? I have friends ... ... and thus needing a question mark to end it.[/nq]
[nq:1]The second is the correct version since it's an indirect question.[/nq]
Yes, but it's a bit verbose ("The reason I am writing to you today is") and might be better if it were simply "I wonder whether your company would be w
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[nq:1]einde. ocallaghan wrote on 15 Dec 2004:[/nq]
[nq:2]The second is the correct version since it's an indirect question.[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes, but it's a bit verbose ("The reason I am writing to you today is") and might be better if ... (might be better as "sponsor" or else "one of the fund's patrons") and "if" might better be rendered as "whether".[/nq]
Agreed. I was replying in a hurry
[nq:2]The second is the correct version since it's an indirect question.[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes, but it's a bit verbose ("The reason I am writing to you today is") and might be better if ... (might be better as "sponsor" or else "one of the fund's patrons") and "if" might better be rendered as "whether".[/nq]
Agreed. I was replying in a hurry
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I'd vote for the second sentence. Indirects don't require a question mark (according to many style manuals). Also, I test by saying the sentences out loud. Questions typically end with a rising intonation, whereas statements tend to end with a falling inclination (politeness aside).
Then again, English is not a regulated language so correct Englis is only an illusion.
Then again, English is not a regulated language so correct Englis is only an illusion.
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[nq:1]I'd vote for the second sentence. Indirects don't require a question mark (according to many style manuals). Also, I test ... a falling inclination (politeness aside). Then again, English is not a regulated language so correct Englis is only an illusion.[/nq]
Well, yes and no. There is no regulatory authority, but on the other hand there are widely accepted standards of correctness, alth
Well, yes and no. There is no regulatory authority, but on the other hand there are widely accepted standards of correctness, alth
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The second sentence is correct because it is a statement: you are stating the reason you're writing.
Hi! I'm Stephanie and new to the group, by the way. :-)
Hi! I'm Stephanie and new to the group, by the way. :-)
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[nq:1]The second sentence is correct because it is a statement: you are stating the reason you're writing. Hi! I'm Stephanie and new to the group, by the way. :-)[/nq]
Welcome, Stephanie. By the way, it is usual to quote the part of the post that you are replying to.
Ray
Welcome, Stephanie. By the way, it is usual to quote the part of the post that you are replying to.
Ray
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