How to Use a Question Mark

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Do you have questions about the question mark? The following rules will help you use the question mark correctly for clearer writing.

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Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Most simply, use the question mark after a direction question, as in, "Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?"
Step 2

Use a period rather than a question mark after an indirect question, such as, "He asked whether I would like to take a flying leap."
Step 3

Opt for a period rather than a question mark for a courteous command that's disguised as a question. For example, "Will you please turn in your tests now."
Step 4

Jot down a question mark, sometimes within parentheses, to indicate uncertainty about a fact. For example, "In her former life she was born in 1211 (?) in a tiny Norwegian village."
Step 5

Place the question mark inside the quotation marks only if it's part of the quotation. Otherwise, it goes outside the quotation marks. For example, "He wondered, 'Why me?'"