A sentence ending with a quoted question requires careful punctuation to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy. Here's how to punctuate it correctly:
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Place the question mark inside the quotation marks: This indicates that the question is part of the quoted material.
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Follow the quoted question with a period: This signals the end of the sentence containing the quoted question.
Examples:
- "Are you coming to the party?" she asked.
- He said, "What time does the movie start?"
- The news headline read, "Will the stock market recover?"
Important Considerations:
- If the quoted question is part of a larger sentence that itself is a question, the question mark goes outside the quotation marks.
- For example, "Did she ask, 'Are you coming to the party?'"
Practical Insights:
- When punctuating a quoted question, always prioritize clarity and readability.
- Remember that the question mark belongs inside the quotation marks only if the quoted material is a question.
- Pay close attention to the overall sentence structure to ensure accurate punctuation.
