Punctuation is important. It is an essential part of the signaling system of language and is central to effective communication – as well as to the passing of exams. A lot of people, however, make an awful mess of punctuation, which means that their performance in essays suffers and that they fail to do themselves justice.
The question mark, unlike the exclamation mark, is essential, and something you must take care to include when it is required:
Did Napoleon represent a real threat to Britain?
Whenever you ask a direct question in your writing, you need to include a question mark: Can I borrow your bike? Is your name Marco? Does metal expand when heated? How long is a piece of string? It is sometimes a little Wore difficult to remember that you are asking a question if you construct a complex sentence with subordinate clauses that delay the arrival of the Question:
The question is, given British naval superiority and the fact that Britain is an island; did Napoleon represent a real threat to Britain?
It is all too easy to forget about the question mark at the end of a long Sentence like th... Read more...
