|
I know - those multiple exclamation and question marks really bug me. Thanks for pointing it out.
Happy writing! ;) | zion613 [323] | 29/04/2009 |
I know what you mean. I always have a problem when I want to exclaim or shout a question. It doesn't feel
right writing '?!'.
JD | JD Higginson [428] | 29/04/2009 |
I have to admit to using multiples when I message a friend or relative. Usually the exclamation mark as
a bit of fun.
In serious writing it should never be. A question is a question no matter how many question marks follow
the final word. That goes for exclamations. The full stop is different of course, as we all know.
There is a school of thought that by putting a question or exclamation mark, one should not state that
a question has been asked.
"Did you want that?" he asked.
"No I don't!" she exclaimed.
The reason being that the question and exclamation marks say what is required. We know he asked a question.
We know she exclaimed without the writer adding the words 'asked' and 'exclaimed'. 'In this situation,
'said', would suffice.
"Do you want that?" he said.
The writer could use a comma instead of the the question and exclamation marks and use 'he asked' and
'she exclaimed' to clarify the meaning of the dialogue.
"Do you want that," he asked.
"No I don't", she exclaimed.
It may not seem right but to use the former; '"Do you want that?" he asked', is similar to putting
a double ?.
Reiner.
Ps. an interesting post by Rowland | Reiner [149] | 29/04/2009 |
Jd, I think one of the ways to overcome your problem is to use something like this;
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he exclaimed.
Reiner. | Reiner [149] | 29/04/2009 |
And this brings up an interesting question I've often struggled with. Do you place a comma before or
after a close quotation mark? For example: Is it proper to write, "Take your mother to the movies,"
he exclaimed; or, it is correct to write, "Take your mother to the movies", he exclaimed.
I believe the former, not the latter, is correct. | Don9307 [42] | 14/05/2009 |
You're right - the comma always goes before the end quotes.
What confuses me, though is something like this: He read "Robin Hood." Now, does the period
in that case go in or out of the close quotes?
;) | zion613 [323] | 14/05/2009 |
I would like to comment on Zion's query:
I believe, periods and commas always go inside quotation marks; other punctuations -- semicolons, question
marks, dashes, and exclamation points - may go outside unless it directly pertains to the material within
the quotes.
Example:
"Cambridge, huh, mate? Me too! - Cantab?" Bernie asked to save the colonel from further blushing while
testing his knowledge of Cambridge University in England.
"Universitas Cantabrigiensis, to be exact, and yes, I'm a Cantabrigian," Colonel Ko Bi countered, draped
in the confused appeal of erudition.
In the next example, single quotation marks were used for the quoted statement and the question mark stays
outside because it is not a part of the quoted statement but a part of the dialogue, which is enclosed
within two quote marks.
"Did he say 'I'm a Cantabrigian'?"
"Yes, he did."
Well, I could be wrong. Hopefully, it helps. | Grampa Pogi [510] | 11/07/2009 |
I have been told that this is my biggest problem, but because of my physical impairment I can not see
punctuation! What do i do? | K_rodgers [19] | 16/09/2009 |
THANKS FOR POINTING IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hehe. | taylorswift97 [365] | 28/01/2010 |