Let\u2019s see if you can spot what is wrong with this sentence? On closer inspection, most of you will see that the sentence should end in a period rather than a question mark.<\/p>\n
Question marks are used only with direct questions<\/strong>. The sentence above certainly contains a direct question: what is wrong with this sentence?<\/em> However,\u00a0Let\u2019s see if<\/em> turns the sentence into an indirect\u00a0<\/em>question.<\/p>\n Here is the difference between direct and indirect questions: Do you agree? <\/em>is a direct question. That same question is embedded in I wonder whether you agree<\/em>. But now the sentence is a statement. The question is still there, but it is no longer direct.<\/p>\n Sentences that start with Let\u2019s see if<\/em>, I wonder whether<\/em>, and the like are statements that ask questions in a roundabout way. Avoid the trap of ending such sentences with question marks.<\/p>\n Some sentences that sound like direct questions are really declarations (What wouldn\u2019t I do for you<\/em>), requests (Why don\u2019t you take a break<\/em>), or demands (Would you kids knock it off<\/em>). Questions like these, which do not require or expect an answer, are called\u00a0rhetorical questions<\/strong>. Because they are questions in form only, rhetorical questions may be written without question marks.<\/p>\n One-word questions within sentences do not ordinarily take question marks either. There might conceivably be a good reason to write The child asked, why? <\/em>but that sentence is heavy-handed compared with The child asked why<\/em>.<\/p>\n When direct questions of more than one word occur in the middle of a sentence, they are generally preceded with a comma, or sometimes a colon, and some writers capitalize the first word: Rantos wondered, How will I escape?<\/em><\/p>\n It is not wrong to capitalize a direct question in midsentence. Sometimes it\u2019s a good idea, other times it can be distracting. Many writers would prefer Rantos wondered, how will I escape?<\/em>\u2014no capital\u2014because the question how will I escape? <\/em>is clear and concise.<\/p>\n The venerable Chicago Manual of Style<\/em> offers this handy guideline: \u201cA direct question may take an initial capital letter if it is relatively long or has internal punctuation.\u201d Chicago then provides an example:\u00a0Legislators had to be asking themselves, Can the fund be used for the current emergency, or must it remain dedicated to its original purpose?<\/em><\/p>\n You will notice that the stylebook says \u201cmay take,\u201d not \u201cmust take.\u201d When it comes to writing questions there is a lot of leeway. Some writers use a colon where others use a comma. Some capitalize where others do not. But an uncalled-for question mark is amateurish in anybody\u2019s book.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pop Quiz<\/strong><\/p>\n Fix any sentences that need fixing. Our answers are below.<\/p>\n 1. I\u2019d like to ask, what makes you so sure?<\/p>\n 2. Why don\u2019t you run along home now?<\/p>\n 3. The question is not only how? but also why?<\/p>\n 4. I wonder if they\u2019re coming over tonight?<\/p>\n 5. I\u2019d like to ask what makes you so sure?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pop Quiz Answers<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. I\u2019d like to ask, what makes you so sure? CORRECT<\/strong><\/p>\n 2. Why don\u2019t you run along home now.<\/p>\n 3. The question is not only how but also why.<\/p>\n 4. I wonder if they\u2019re coming over tonight.<\/p>\n 5. I\u2019d like to ask what makes you so sure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Let\u2019s see if you can spot what is wrong with this sentence? On closer inspection, most of you will see that the sentence should end in a period rather than a question mark. Question marks are used only with direct questions. The sentence above certainly contains a direct question: what is wrong with this sentence? 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