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Category_MWW Blog>The Comma
"My Question Is..."
This construction always causes consternation and no end of disagreement. This is my understanding of the way English grammar works.
It is never correct to use a single separating comma between th...
Category_MWW Blog>The Comma
A Period or a Question Mark?
When the witness repeats the question or part of the question and then answers it, use a question mark after the question and let the rest of the answer stand on its own.
...Q Was it after 10:00...
Category_MWW Blog>The Question Mark
Two Questions
Even when said as one thought with NO pause and NO change of the timbre of the voice, this construction takes two question marks.
...Were your car windows open? Do you remember?
...Was y...
Category_MWW Blog>The Question Mark
This Is How It Should Look...
Q No one saw you; is that correct?
A No.
Q "No," it's not correct? Or, "No," no one saw you?
Happy punctuating!
Margie
Category_MWW Blog>The Question Mark
"Where are you going? is my question."
When there are two parts to a sentence, one a statement and one a question, it is the part at the end that determines the terminal punctuation.
...My question is where are you going?
...Where are ...
Category_MWW Blog>The Question Mark
Put the Question Mark Where the Question Is First Asked
It seems as if I just addressed this, but I looked back and don't see it.
The only way to consistently punctuate questions is to follow this rule: Put the question mark where the question is first...
Category_MWW Blog>The Question Mark
Quotes
Periods and commas go inside quotes without exception; colons and semicolons go outside quotes without exception.
Question marks go inside or outside quotes depending on where the question is bein...
Category_MWW Blog>The Comma
"Do You Know What I Mean?" and Other Nonquestions
When someone has a language "glitch" and uses a word or phrase over and over, that word or phrase is surrounded by commas.
...He was, like, on the, you know, edge that day.
...The company, like, y...
Category_MWW Blog>The Dash
Sentence Within a Sentence
If a question is dropped inside a statement or question, put a pair of dashes around it and a question mark after it.
...He was standing near -- were you aware of him at the time? -- the desk of t...