Framing questions in dialogue

[LaRascasse]

It's one of the things that I haven't been able to get my head around. What is the correct syntax for asking a question in dialogue and then offering answers (to make a point)?

Example -

“How long do you think we can keep up this charade? A week? A month? A year?"

Are all four question marks necessary? Because the last three are not questions so much as suggested answers (to make the point that the charade cannot be kept up much longer).

This structure is pretty common in dialogue but I've never been able to grasp the why/when of it.

 

[sr71plt]

Yes, all of them. The last three are questions as well, with the "Is it?" implied.

You wouldn't technically be wrong to use a comma for the middle two question marks and run it as a complete sentence, still with an "Is it?" implied on the front.

 

[HeyAll]

Yes because each question is its own question.

 

[KlaytonFrost]

I'd keep all the question marks. I know it feels like a lot, but each one really is a question, when you get down to it. If you wanted to though, you could run them together: "a week, a month, a year?".

 

[MSTarot]

You could also show a growing anger or frustration in the question by adding an exclamation point to the last one.

As in this rule.

An exclamation mark may be used to close questions that are meant to convey extreme emotion, as in

What on earth are you doing! Stop!

 

[sr71plt]

As in this rule.

Which would be 6.72 in the Chicago Manual of Style 16th edition (for those who want a citation).

 

[Bramblethorn]

It's one of the things that I haven't been able to get my head around. What is the correct syntax for asking a question in dialogue and then offering answers (to make a point)?

Example - “How long do you think we can keep up this charade? A week? A month? A year?"



Are all four question marks necessary? Because the last three are not questions so much as suggested answers (to make the point that the charade cannot be kept up much longer).

This structure is pretty common in dialogue but I've never been able to grasp the why/when of it.

I'd parse it as four questions, with overlapping scope:

"How long do you think we can keep up this charade? Do you think we can keep it up for a week? Do you think we can keep it up for a month? Do you think we can keep it up for a year?"

But for the sake of punchiness, "do you think we can keep it up for" is omitted; it's expected that it'll be obvious from context. It's like saying "Drink?" instead of "Would you like something to drink?"

 

[Hypoxia]

Use different phrasing for different flavors.

1) “How long do you think we can keep up this charade? A week? A month? A year?"
2) “How long do you think we can keep up this charade? A week, a month, a year?"

IMHO (1) is more dramatic, more emphatic. For even MORE emphasis:

He pounded the table. “How long do you think we can keep up this charade? A week?" (WHAP!) "A month?" (WHAP!) "A year?" (WHAP!) (WHAP!)

 

[PayDay]

It's one of the things that I haven't been able to get my head around. What is the correct syntax for asking a question in dialogue and then offering answers (to make a point)?
...
Are all four question marks necessary? Because the last three are not questions so much as suggested answers (to make the point that the charade cannot be kept up much longer).

This structure is pretty common in dialogue but I've never been able to grasp the why/when of it.

That example, without all four question marks, has a different connotation, or a different timing and feel, especially so since it's dialogue. So I would say the syntax is dependent on the context, or the emotion the question is trying to express.

Also: Simply by changing any one of the question marks to an exclamation point, or by adding one, would highlight the effect or affect of the expression.

For instance: Read it out loud. I know it sounds silly, but try it.
"A week? A month? A Year?"
"A week, a month, a year?"
"...a week? ...a month? ...a year?"
"A week? A month? A year?!"

 

[NaokoSmith]

I think what goes on here is the use of the punctuation not just in its strict grammatical sense. The increasing number of question marks adds to the rising tension. A question mark suggests the intonation of the voice which will be speaking the dialogue - as does an exclamation mark:

"How long do you think we can keep this up?"
Voice rises at the end in question.
"A week? A month? A year?"
Voice rising and rising.

You might want to give more of a sense anger rather than rising indignation and frustration, then you might use the exclamation mark:
"How long do you think we can keep this up?
A week? A month? A year!"

 

[slyc_willie]

Sometimes, a break in the dialogue, along with some descriptive tagging, can add a little oomph.

"How long do you think we can keep up this charade?" she asked heatedly. "A week? A month?" She waved her arms frantically, eyes widened with anxiety. "A year?"

That's probably how I would do it.

 

[allamagione]

Who cares what's stylistically correct? I'll tell you what your example makes me feel as a reader.

This speaker is frantic. I don't need any other details to get that point across. An uninterrupted line of questions feels like a firing squad. The repeated question marks evoke a raise in voice pitch on each word. I can hear each becoming louder and more desperate.

If that was your intent, I think you punctuated this perfectly.

 

[lovecraft68]

Who cares what's stylistically correct? I'll tell you what your example makes me feel as a reader.

This speaker is frantic. I don't need any other details to get that point across. An uninterrupted line of questions feels like a firing squad. The repeated question marks evoke a raise in voice pitch on each word. I can hear each becoming louder and more desperate.

If that was your intent, I think you punctuated this perfectly.

Excellent point.

Obviously there are rules we're supposed to follow. "Technical writing" I suppose we could refer to it as.

But time and again I see stories that are perfectly punctuated and as you said stylistically correct, but.....shit reads like stereo instructions. No emotion, no heart, no realism.

I'll take grammatically imperfect, but powerful, anytime.

Because you're right, the character sounds like they're losing it and because I can see that, its fine as far as I am concerned.

Guess that's why I'm not a "real writer" like some of the other people here consider themselves.

 

[sr71plt]

I don't see your point in this case, as it was affirmed that the usuage followed accepted style (and style choices do take into account intent).

 

[49greg]

Use different phrasing for different flavors.

1) “How long do you think we can keep up this charade? A week? A month? A year?"
2) “How long do you think we can keep up this charade? A week, a month, a year?"

IMHO (1) is more dramatic, more emphatic. For even MORE emphasis:

He pounded the table. “How long do you think we can keep up this charade? A week?" (WHAP!) "A month?" (WHAP!) "A year?" (WHAP!) (WHAP!)

I like your style for the MORE emphasis. I can see where the question might be posed by a tired and defeated person, in that case just the plain three question marks, or even with the commas and the question mark at the end.

But for anger the three marks and for more anger your version. Although I would use 'BANG!' or 'THUMP!' instead of 'WHAP!' - WHAP! sounds to me more like the sound of a blow or slap to a face than a fist on the table.

But that's just me.

Edited: I asked my English major wife. She likes the three question marks. "And for added emphasis use an exclamation mark after each question mark. But only one of each together, never never use two of the same mark together." i.e. Use the ?! but never !! or ?? I have to admit to using the !! or even the !!!!!! or ????? but I don't think in anything I've submitted here.

 

[oggbashan]

...
Are all four question marks necessary? Because the last three are not questions so much as suggested answers (to make the point that the charade cannot be kept up much longer).

This structure is pretty common in dialogue but I've never been able to grasp the why/when of it.

Most readers will scan quickly over the four question marks, and not worry that there are so many.

 

[Hypoxia]

Edited: I asked my English major wife. She likes the three question marks. "And for added emphasis use an exclamation mark after each question mark. But only one of each together, never never use two of the same mark together." i.e. Use the ?! but never !! or ?? I have to admit to using the !! or even the !!!!!! or ????? but I don't think in anything I've submitted here.

Is an evasive punctuation glyph, rarely seen: the interrobang, an overlay of a bang (!) and interrogator (?). Probably too difficult to read in small screen fonts, alas. Let's see:

‽

There it is. Not too clear, eh? Maybe larger:

[size=+3]‽[/size]

A little better[size=+1]‽[/size]