question mark

question mark
question mark
1. The principal use of the question mark (?) is to indicate a direct question: Are they leaving tomorrow? / What time is it? It is also used when the question is put in the form of a statement: They told you that? / Surely it's the same one? / I wonder if you can help me? It should not be used in indirect questions in which the question is reported rather than expressed (He asked what time it was), but should be used in tag questions of the kind She's much taller now, isn't she?.
2. A question that makes a formal or polite request does not always have a question mark: Would passengers on platform 2 please proceed to platform 5.
3. A question mark is conventionally placed before a word about which there is some doubt, e.g. uncertain locations on maps and uncertain dates (Thomas Tallis, ?1505–85).

Modern English usage. 2014.

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