the question mark
What to say about the question mark, huh?????
This is what a dictionary definition is:
question mark
noun
* a punctuation mark (?) indicating a question.
* used to express doubt or uncertainty about something.
“there’s a question mark over his future.”
“For me, art is supposed to be a question mark.” Marilyn Manson – that brilliant man – both as a musician and a mind.
“You win a race, the next race it’s a question mark. Are you still the best or not? That’s what is funny. But that’s what is interesting. And that’s what is challenging. You have to prove yourself every time.” Michael Schumacher from www.brainyquote.com
how is the question mark used?
The question mark is a fairly easy punctuation mark to get, and to use. It has one use, and one use only. It goes at the end of a sentence which is a question.
“How many will be at the party?”
“What?”
You do not include a period when using a question mark. You also do not add a whole lot of question marks in formal writing, although it’s acceptable in informal writing, especially on the web or in texting.
One small tip – do not use a question mark where it is not needed:
If you say: “I wonder how many people will come to the party.” you do require an answer but that has already been indicated in the statement – “I wonder … This is a very common mistake people make when using a question mark in written English.
A famous question in literature:
“To be or not to be?” Hamlet, Shakespeare ( possibly the most famous – and important – question of all.)
A very contemporary example is, of course, FAQ. “Frequently Asked Questions” is a common tab on websites for products, services, educational and informational sites.
The question mark is a fairly easy punctuation mark to use. It has one use, and one use alone. It goes at the end of a sentence which is a question.