posted
I would put the question mark outside the quotes. The reason: The whole sentence is a question, but not a quote.
I looked this up on Bartleby.com in The King's English by H.W. Fowler.
It is rather dense reading but the just of it is, (!) and (?) are tone markers and not true sentence stops. Therefore, if what is enclosed within the quote is a question that is part of a bigger question, put the (?) both inside and outside your quotes.
If the statement in quotes is NOT a separate question put the (?) outside the quotes.
quote:1) The true stops should never stand before the second quotation mark except
a. when, as in dialogue given without framework, complete sentences entirely isolated and independent in grammar are printed as quotations. Even in these, it must be mentioned that the true stops are strictly unnecessary; but if the full stop (which alone can here be in question) is used in deference to universal custom, it should be before the quotation mark.
b. when a stop is necessary to divide the first fragment of an interrupted quotation from the second.
2)Words that interrupt quotations should never be allowed stops to part them from the quotation.
3) The tone symbols should be placed before or after the second quotation mark according as they belong to the quotation or to the containing sentence. If both quotation and containing sentence need a tone symbol, both should be used, with the quotation mark between them.
The bracketed numbers before the examples repeat the numbers of the rules.
(1) Views advocated by Dr. Whately in his well-known 'Essays';
It is enough for us to reflect that 'Such shortlived wits do wither as they grow'.
We hear that 'whom the gods love die young', and thenceforth we collect the cases that illustrate it.
(1 a) 'You are breaking the rules.' 'Well, the rules are silly.'
(1 b) 'Certainly not;' he exclaimed 'I would have died rather'.
(2) 'I cannot guess' he retorted 'what you mean'.
(3) But 'why drag in Velasquez?'
But what is the use of saying 'Call no man happy till he dies'?
Is the question 'Where was he?' or 'What was he doing?'?
How absurd to ask 'Can a thing both be and not be?'!
If indignation is excited by the last two monstrosities, we can only say what has been implied many other times in this book, that the right substitute for correct ugliness is not incorrect prettiness, but correct prettiness. There is never any difficulty in rewriting sentences like these. (Is the question where he was, &c.?) ('Can a thing both be and not be?' The question is absurd.) But it should be recognized that, if such sentences are to be written, there is only one way to punctuate them.
posted
Yep. HSO is right. But I agree with Dakota that I'd try to find a way to restructure the sentence 'cause it just looks wrong.
According to "The Blue Book of Punctuation"
quote:The placement of question marks with quotes follows logic. If a question is in quotation marks, the question mark should be placed inside the quote.
Examples She asked, "Will you still be my friend?"
Do you agree with the saying, "All’s fair in love and war"? Here the question is outside the quote.
NOTE: Only one ending punctuation mark is used with quotation marks. Also, the stronger punctuation mark wins. Therefore, no period after war is used.
posted
You're welcome -- the only reason I'm clear on this is because MaryRobinette recommended "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" to help with my punctuation. Great book, btw, and very funny at times (if you're pedantic, that is). Thanks Mary.
posted
No problem. I do have to point out that the title is "Eats Shoots and Leaves." The other way is improper punctuation; if you'll notice, the panda on the front cover is painting the comma out.
Posts: 2022 | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Madam, despite the panda-painting-over-commas picture, check your title page and the top of every even page. A comma will be found in the title. I checked before I typed it in because I didn't want to look stupid--something I'm usually quite capable of doing well enough.
That is to say, check it if you brought it with you to Iceland. Otherwise, just take my word for it.
And how is Iceland?--now that you should've arrived. Any troubles?
posted
Dang. I hate being wrong. Sorry about that, I was working from memory. I got here this morning at 6:30 a.m. The flight was smooth, no problems except amazing jetlag. I'm at the studio and fighting to stay awake.
Posts: 2022 | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Well, you're right that it is improper punctuation, wrong because the whole point of that title is that it is an example of what can happen when you punctuate improperly.
Posts: 8322 | Registered: Aug 1999
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posted
Ah, but that clearly shows Mary doesn't need this book. If she had trouble with punctuation, she wouldn't have automatically blocked out the lousy grammar.
Posts: 836 | Registered: Jul 2004
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