Question or not Question?

[Eluard]

Sometimes when I am writing I lose any grip I have on whether a particular sentence is a question and needs a question mark, or not.

Take this:

"Take a look at John's bow tie — who knew that he was a literary critic."

Syntactically this seems to be a question and to need a question mark.

But semantically it seems — to me at least — to not be a question. It is, at best, a rhetorical question embedded in an instruction, and the total effect is not to ask anything, but to assert something. Therefore it should have no question mark.

So, I ask you — what would you do? Put a question mark in there or not?

 

[glynndah]

Sometimes when I am writing I lose any grip I have on whether a particular sentence is a question and needs a question mark, or not.

Take this:

"Take a look at John's bow tie — who knew that he was a literary critic."

Syntactically this seems to be a question and to need a question mark.

But semantically it seems — to me at least — to not be a question. It is, at best, a rhetorical question embedded in an instruction, and the total effect is not to ask anything, but to assert something. Therefore it should have no question mark.

So, I ask you — what would you do? Put a question mark in there or not?

I'd break it up into two sentences. "Take a look at John's bow tie. Who knew that he was a literary critic?"

 

[jomar]

Ack! A writing thread!

I sort of go by a 'how is it meant rule.'

If it's more of a statement ("You want me to fuck you, don't you."), then it's a period.

If it's a question ("Would you like me to fuck you [insert adverb here]?), then it's a question mark.

Easy when you don't think about it.

 

[starrkers]

I agree with glynndah's approach. It's a rhetorical question, but still a question.

 

[keeblercrumb]

Ack! A writing thread! .

Doesn't that shit just gripe your ass? You come on to the author's hangout...and someone wants to talk about... writing..... WTF???

I sort of go by a 'how is it meant rule.'

If it's more of a statement ("You want me to fuck you, don't you."), then it's a period.

If it's a question ("Would you like me to fuck you [insert adverb here]?), then it's a question mark.

I have had this exact experience... When I want to fuck her, it's her period... other than that, it is questionable.

Easy when you don't think about it

And that is EXACTLY what I told her!!

-KC

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Ack! A writing thread!

I sort of go by a 'how is it meant rule.'

If it's more of a statement ("You want me to fuck you, don't you."), then it's a period.

If it's a question ("Would you like me to fuck you [insert adverb here]?), then it's a question mark.

Easy when you don't think about it.

Doesn't that shit just gripe your ass? You come on to the author's hangout...and someone wants to talk about... writing..... WTF???



I have had this exact experience... When I want to fuck her, it's her period... other than that, it is questionable.




And that is EXACTLY what I told her!!

-KC

That is my tact as well. THough I have been told that it "You want me to fuck you, don't you." and sentences like it (you would, wouldn't you) are always questions. But I would rather puctuate on intent than grammar (I'm naughty like that )

 

[Frank Noir]

I also "hear" the lines differently in my head as I read.

A line with a question mark is spoken differently (raising the pitch at the end of the sentence) than one without (which is more "cool" and matter-of-fact).

 

[Boxlicker101]

I think it's sort of a rhetorical question, but somebody is liable to answer it, especially if John really is a literary critic. Personally, I would add the question mark. On the other example, by Jomar, is also a question, because it really does call for an answer. The asker is hoping what it will be, but can't actually know. If the second person does not answer, the question will be asked with more urgency.

 

[CyranodeMelbourne]

Great thread! I've often wondered the same thing.