Punctuating Complex Questions: A Guide to Question Mark Usage

📚 Quick Study Guide

• ❓ A question mark (?) ends a direct question.
• 🤔 Use a single question mark at the end of a sentence, even if it contains multiple clauses.
• ✍️ Indirect questions (statements reporting a question) do not end with a question mark.
• 💬 Use question marks inside quotation marks when the quoted material is a question.
• 🤯 Avoid using multiple question marks (???) for emphasis in formal writing.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?
   1. Is she going to the store, or is she staying home?
   2. Is she going to the store or is she staying home?
   3. Is she going to the store, or is she staying home.
   4. Is she going to the store or is she staying home.
2. Which sentence correctly uses a question mark with quotation marks?
   1. She asked, "Are we there yet?"
   2. She asked, "Are we there yet"?
   3. She asked, "Are we there yet".?
   4. She asked "Are we there yet?"?
3. Which of the following is an indirect question and therefore does NOT need a question mark?
   1. I wonder why she left?
   2. I wonder why she left.
   3. Why did she leave?
   4. Do you know why she left?
4. Which of the following demonstrates the correct use of a question mark in a complex sentence?
   1. Although it was raining, did they still go for a walk?
   2. Although it was raining, did they still go for a walk.
   3. Although it was raining did they still go for a walk?
   4. Although it was raining, did they still go for a walk??
5. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
   1. He asked if I knew the answer?
   2. He asked if I knew the answer.
   3. He asked, if I knew the answer?
   4. He asked; if I knew the answer?
6. Select the sentence that uses a question mark correctly.
   1. What time does the movie start.
   2. What time does the movie start?
   3. What time does the movie start?!
   4. What time does the movie start??
7. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
   1. "Can you help me?" she inquired.
   2. "Can you help me?" she inquired?
   3. "Can you help me", she inquired?
   4. "Can you help me" she inquired?