 John the OFM  | 24 Apr 2011 8:00 a.m. PST |
On another TMP thread, I queried:
Any word on "Car 54 Where Are You?"? I am asking a question about an old TV series, whose title was also a question. MY question now is, "Am I using too many question marks?" |
| John the OFM | 24 Apr 2011 8:00 a.m. PST |
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| Connard Sage | 24 Apr 2011 8:11 a.m. PST |
"Am I using too many question marks?" No. You may be using too many inverted commas though. |
aecurtis  | 24 Apr 2011 8:32 a.m. PST |
"If a statement ends in a quoted question, allow the question mark within the quotation marks suffice to end the sentence." link Allen |
| John the OFM | 24 Apr 2011 8:47 a.m. PST |
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 Saginaw | 24 Apr 2011 9:15 a.m. PST |
What Allen said. 
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| kyoteblue | 24 Apr 2011 10:04 a.m. PST |
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| Ditto Tango 2 3 | 24 Apr 2011 11:20 a.m. PST |
Allen's link is defeintely not what I was taught in grammar class about 40 years ago. I was taught that after a quote of any sort, a punctuation mark, either a period or question mark marked the end of the sentence, outside of the quotes. I remember being really impressed by this for some reason. So based on grmammar I was taight 40 years ago, John's punctuation is correct. OTOH, grammar back then has been changed in a couple of minor ways. What Allen's link says actually makes some practical sense as well, I suppose.
--
Tim |
| Neotacha | 24 Apr 2011 11:56 a.m. PST |
Allen's link would certainly cut down on wasted pixels. |
| britishlinescarlet2 | 24 Apr 2011 12:28 p.m. PST |
My English "0" Level teacher would concur with Ditto. Anything else would be considered lazy and I could expect a good thrashing. |
| Ditto Tango 2 3 | 24 Apr 2011 12:49 p.m. PST |
So based on grmammar I was taight 40 years ago, Oh jeez, this proves I'm a grammar expert!
--
Tim |
| aecurtis | 24 Apr 2011 1:27 p.m. PST |
British/Canadian practice for punctuating quotations differs from American. The British version is preferred by this Canadian site: link Or as this site explains, "In American English, the convention is to put commas and periods inside quotation marks. The British follow a more complicated and time-consuming convention, which may be why there is no longer a British Empire." link Allen |
| korsun0 | 25 Apr 2011 5:32 a.m. PST |
"Another Grammer and Punctuation question" Or is that "Another Grammar and Punctuation question"…:) |
| John the OFM | 25 Apr 2011 6:44 a.m. PST |
TMP Grammer, and, Speling, Facscists™ traditionally throw bones like that to the masses so we do not look elitist.
Even an Emeritus Grammer, and, Speling, Facscist™ like myself. We do it so nit-pickers who have not reached our high level or have anything better to do can feel something to be proud of. |
| korsun0 | 25 Apr 2011 7:18 a.m. PST |
Ha! I'm very proud of my pedantic side….:) |
| aecurtis | 25 Apr 2011 7:25 a.m. PST |
Oh; your just being elitest. Allen |
| John the OFM | 25 Apr 2011 7:35 a.m. PST |
Oh, I AM elitist. No doubt about it.
I just want the peasants to love me more. |
| korsun0 | 25 Apr 2011 7:51 a.m. PST |
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| jizbrand | 25 Apr 2011 9:12 a.m. PST |
Shouldn't there be a comma after "Car 54"? |
| lugal hdan | 25 Apr 2011 9:40 a.m. PST |
The title of the show is "Car 54, Where Are You?". I would suggest that two question marks are correct, as the one in the quotations is not grammatically useful to the sentence. Though I'm probably wrong. English grammar rules have a habit of violating linguistic logic. |
has been spending time in paradise lately.
