PUNCTUATION RULES QUESTIONS MARKS

Question Marks
Rule 1. Use a question mark only after a direct question.

Correct: Will you go with me?

Incorrect: I'm asking if you will go with me?

Rule 2a. A question mark replaces a period at the end of a sentence.

Incorrect: Will you go with me?.

Rule 2b. Because of Rule 2a, capitalize the word that follows a question
mark.

Some writers choose to overlook this rule in special cases.

Example: Will you go with me? with Joe? with anyone?

Rule 3a. Avoid the common trap of using question marks with indirect
questions, which are statements that contain questions. Use a period after an
indirect question.

Incorrect: I wonder if he would go with me?

Correct:
I wonder if he would go with me.
OR
I wonder: Would he go with me?

Rule 3b. Some sentences are statements—or demands—in the form of a

question. They are called rhetorical questions because they don't require or
expect an answer. Many should be written without question marks.
 Examples:
Why don't you take a break.
Would you kids knock it off.
What wouldn't I do for you!

Rule 4. Use a question mark when a sentence is half statement and half
question.

Example: You do care, don't you?

Rule 5a. The placement of question marks with quotation marks follows logic.
If a question is within the quoted material, a question mark should be placed
inside the quotation marks.

Examples:
She asked, "Will you still be my friend?"
The question Will you still be my friend? is part of the quotation.

Do you agree with the saying, "All's fair in love and war"?
The question Do you agree with the saying? is outside the quotation.

Rule 5b. If a quoted question ends in midsentence, the question mark

replaces a comma.

Example: "Will you still be my friend?" she asked.

Question Marks, Quotation Marks, and
Parentheses Quiz 1
1. For each of the following, choose the correct sentence.

A) He wanted to know when you will be here?

B) He wanted to know when you will be here.

2.

A) “Well,” she said, “you certainly didn’t waste any time.”

B) “Well”, she said, “you certainly didn’t waste any time”.

3.

A) “Is it almost over,” he asked?

B) “Is it almost over?” he asked.

4.

A) She screamed, “I’ve had it up to here!”.

B) She screamed, “I’ve had it up to here!”

5.
 A) The song asks, “Would you like to swing on a star?”

B) The song asks, “Would you like to swing on a star”?

Question Marks, Quotation Marks, and

Parentheses Quiz 1
6.

A) Carmen said, “I think “Ring the Alarm” is a great song.”

B) Carmen said, “I think ‘Ring the Alarm’ is a great song.”

7.

A) She asked (actually she pleaded), but he would not budge.

B) She asked, (actually she pleaded) but he would not budge.

8.

A) We didn’t want to go. (Because of the weather.)

B) We didn’t want to go (because of the weather).

9.
 A) “May I have a rain check on that lunch,” I asked?

B) “May I have a rain check on that lunch?” I asked.

10.

A) Do you believe the saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned”?

B) Do you believe the saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned?”

Quiz Results
1. For each of the following, choose the correct sentence.

Correct Answer: B He wanted to know when you will be here.

Explanation: this is not a direct question.

2.

Correct Answer: A “Well,” she said, “you certainly didn’t waste any time.”

Explanation: periods and commas always go inside quotation marks.

3.

Correct Answer: B “Is it almost over?” he asked.

Explanation: “Is it almost over?” is a question, so the question mark must be
placed inside the quotation marks.

4.

Correct Answer: B She screamed, “I’ve had it up to here!”

Explanation: an exclamation point replaces a period at the end of a sentence.

5.

Correct Answer: A The song asks, “Would you like to swing on a star?”

Explanation: “Would you like to swing on a star?” is a question, so the

question mark must be placed inside the quotation marks.

6.

Correct Answer: B Carmen said, “I think ‘Ring the Alarm’ is a great song.”

Explanation: this sentence has a title within a quotation, so single quotation

marks are needed.

7.

Correct Answer: A She asked (actually she pleaded), but he would not
budge.

Explanation: commas are more likely to follow parentheses than precede

them.

8.
Correct Answer: B We didn’t want to go (because of the weather).

Explanation: if material in parentheses is not a complete sentence, it should

be part of the previous sentence.

9.

Correct Answer: B “May I have a rain check on that lunch?” I asked.

Explanation: “May I have a rain check on that lunch?” is a question, so the

question mark must be placed inside the quotation marks.

10.

Correct Answer: A Do you believe the saying, “A penny saved is a penny

earned”?

Explanation: “A penny saved is a penny earned” is not a question, so the

question mark must be placed outside the quotation marks.

Final Score: 0/10

Question Marks, Quotation Marks, and
Parentheses Quiz 1
1. For each of the following, choose the correct sentence.

A) He wanted to know when you will be here?

B) He wanted to know when you will be here.

2.

A) “Well,” she said, “you certainly didn’t waste any time.”

B) “Well”, she said, “you certainly didn’t waste any time”.

3.

A) “Is it almost over,” he asked?

B) “Is it almost over?” he asked.

4.

A) She screamed, “I’ve had it up to here!”.

B) She screamed, “I’ve had it up to here!”

5.
 A) The song asks, “Would you like to swing on a star?”

B) The song asks, “Would you like to swing on a star”?

Question Marks, Quotation Marks, and

Parentheses Quiz 1
6.

A) Carmen said, “I think “Ring the Alarm” is a great song.”

B) Carmen said, “I think ‘Ring the Alarm’ is a great song.”

7.

A) She asked (actually she pleaded), but he would not budge.

B) She asked, (actually she pleaded) but he would not budge.

8.

A) We didn’t want to go. (Because of the weather.)

B) We didn’t want to go (because of the weather).

9.

A) “May I have a rain check on that lunch,” I asked?

 B) “May I have a rain check on that lunch?” I asked.

10.

A) Do you believe the saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned”?

B) Do you believe the saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned?”

Quiz Results
1. For each of the following, choose the correct sentence.

Correct Answer: B He wanted to know when you will be here.

Explanation: this is not a direct question.

2.

Correct Answer: A “Well,” she said, “you certainly didn’t waste any time.”

Explanation: periods and commas always go inside quotation marks.

3.

Correct Answer: B “Is it almost over?” he asked.

Explanation: “Is it almost over?” is a question, so the question mark must be

placed inside the quotation marks.

4.
Correct Answer: B She screamed, “I’ve had it up to here!”

Explanation: an exclamation point replaces a period at the end of a sentence.

5.

Correct Answer: A The song asks, “Would you like to swing on a star?”

Explanation: “Would you like to swing on a star?” is a question, so the

question mark must be placed inside the quotation marks.

6.

Correct Answer: B Carmen said, “I think ‘Ring the Alarm’ is a great song.”

Explanation: this sentence has a title within a quotation, so single quotation

marks are needed.

7.

Correct Answer: A She asked (actually she pleaded), but he would not
budge.

Explanation: commas are more likely to follow parentheses than precede

them.

8.

Correct Answer: B We didn’t want to go (because of the weather).

Explanation: if material in parentheses is not a complete sentence, it should

be part of the previous sentence.
9.

Correct Answer: B “May I have a rain check on that lunch?” I asked.

Explanation: “May I have a rain check on that lunch?” is a question, so the

question mark must be placed inside the quotation marks.

10.

Correct Answer: A Do you believe the saying, “A penny saved is a penny

earned”?

Explanation: “A penny saved is a penny earned” is not a question, so the

question mark must be placed outside the quotation marks.

Final Score: 0/10