Question Marks (?)

A question mark indicates the end of a question. The main rule for using a question mark is straightforward: if the sentence is in the form of a question, a question mark should be used at the end of the sentence.

1.Direct Questions
2.Indirect Questions
3.Question Marks and Quotation Marks
4.Question Marks and Parentheses
5.Additional Question Mark Rules

Direct Questions

A direct question is a question that requires an answer. In many cases, direct questions begin with who, what, when, where, and why.

Example: What is your name?

Example: Does anyone have a pencil I can use?

Question marks should be applied at the end of direct questions.

Incorrect: You did eat, didn't you.

correct: You did eat, didn't you?

Incorrect: Will you go there with me.

correct: Will you go there with me?

Indirect Questions

An indirect question is a question that is hidden inside a statement or another question.

Example: She is asking if you are available tomorrow.

Example: I was wondering if you could help me.

Instead of a question mark, a period should be placed at the end of an indirect question.

Incorrect: I wonder if I should call him?

correct: I wonder if I should call him.

Incorrect: He asked me if I can borrow the book?

correct: He asked me if I can borrow the book.

Question Marks and Quotation Marks

It can be confusing at times whether a question mark goes inside or outside of the quotation mark. The general rule is that if a question is quoted, the question mark should go inside the quotation marks.

Example: He asked, "Can I come?"

Example: "Are you done with your homework?" she asked.

Meanwhile, if the entire sentence is a question and the quoted phrase is not a question, the question mark should go outside the quotation marks.

Example: Did she really say, "You are fat"?

Example: Are you sure she said "go out and spend all your money"?

Question Marks and Parentheses

The rule for using question marks with parentheses follows the rule for question marks and quotation marks. If the content inside the parentheses is a question, the question mark should go inside the parentheses.

Example: I saw the fourth edition of the book (or was it the fifth?).

If the question mark applies to the entire sentence and not just to the content inside the parentheses, the question mark should go outside the parentheses.

Example: Will he come home tomorrow (May 4th)?

Example: Can you believe he walked all the way over here (from his house)?

Additional Question Mark Rules

There are cases in which the general question mark rule does not apply such as for rhetorical questions and mid-sentence quotes.

Rhetorical questions

A rhetorical question is a question that does not anticipate or require an answer. They are used to emphasize a certain point. Question marks may be used at the end of the question depending on the context. However, since rhetorical questions are mostly written in the form of questions, question marks are often used at the end of the sentence.

Example: I mean, who would want to go with her?

Example: What is the meaning of life?

Question marks in mid-sentence quotes

When a quote is embedded within a sentence, a comma is typically used to separate the quote from the attributive tag (“she said,” “he asked,” etc.). However, when a question mark is used in a sentence to quote something, do not use commas after the quotation marks.

Incorrect: "Are you sure you want to eat this?", she asked.

correct: "Are you sure you want to eat this?" she asked.

Incorrect: "Can you tell me your name?", the woman asked him.

correct: "Can you tell me your name?" the woman asked him.