Wondering About Question Marks?


Written on June 21, 2011 – 6:57 am | by Matthew Hovell

Today I received a sales message by email that included this sentence in the opening paragraph:

I am contacting you today to see if you might have an interest in marketing your product in China?

That is a statement. Why does it end with a question mark?

A statement should end with a period (full stop)–not a question mark. These examples are all correct:

  • Rochelle asked whether you have considered taking a business writing class.
  • I wonder whether Cecilia willbe able to meet the visitors from Ottawa.
  • The only question she asked was when the registration fee would be due.
  • Why he estimated the proposal preparation fees at$12,000 is a mystery.
  • The importantquestion is not when to retire–its how to afford it.

If you want to use a question mark, write a question:

  • Rochelle asked, “Has Jenconsidered taking a business writing class?”
  • I wonder: WillCecilia willbe able to meet the visitors from Ottawa?
  • The only question she asked was this: When will theregistration fee be due?
  • Why did he estimate the proposal preparation fees at$12,000? Itis a mystery.
  • The important question is not when to retire. Its,How can we afford it?

In spoken communication, you may choose to raise your pitch at the end of a statement to indicate the questioning aspect of it. For example, if the sales message I quoted above had come by phone, the person might have said it this way, with a higher pitch at the end:

I am contacting you today to see if you might have an interest in marketing your product in China?

As I was checking the rules in The Gregg Reference Manual, I noted Greggs helpful comment: “When the verb precedes the subject (shall we, can we), the question is direct [and requires a question mark]. When the verb follows the subject (we shall, we can), the question is indirect [and requires a period].”

I am wondering whether you found this blog post helpful. (No question mark.) Did you?

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