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7.09 The Question Mark, Main purpose

A question mark is placed at the end of a direct question, sometimes even if the sentence is declarative or imperative in form:

  • Doctor Livingstone, I presume?
  • Surely not?
  • Give him more time? Don’t make me laugh.
  • I don’t suppose you’d have another one in the same colour?

A question mark may be used for each query within a sentence:

  • Managers must ask themselves: How will this proposal affect cost?
    productivity? employee satisfaction?