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What is a question mark?
A question mark ‘?’ is a punctuation mark used to indicate a question or inquiry. It is primarily employed at the end of a sentence to indicate that the sentence is interrogative. By using a question mark, a writer seeks to prompt a response or to emphasize the uncertainty or doubt expressed in the sentence.
The basic concept of a question mark
Question marks indicate that a question is being asked. When reading a sentence ending with a question mark, the reader understands that the writer is seeking information or clarification. The presence of a question mark alters the tone of the sentence, indicating curiosity or the need for an answer.
How to use question marks
1. Direct questions: The most common use of the question mark is to punctuate direct questions. For example: “Where is the nearest grocery store?” or “What time does the concert start?”
2. Indirect questions: When a sentence includes a question in a more disguised or indirect form, a question mark is still used. For example: “I wonder how she managed to solve the puzzle?”
3. Tag questions: Question marks are also used in tag questions, which are short phrases added to the end of a sentence to confirm or seek agreement. For example: “You like tennis, don’t you?”
4. Rhetorical questions: These are questions not meant to be answered, but to make a point or engage the reader. In such cases, a question mark is still used, even though the answer is implied. For example: “Why bother trying if you know you will fail?”
Using question marks correctly can help convey the intended meaning and tone in your writing. Remember to apply them at the end of a sentence when seeking information or posing a question.
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