When a question mark appeared in the letter. Question mark

The punctuation mark (?), Placed at the end (in some languages, for example, in Spanish, and at the beginning, inverted) of the interrogative sentence ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

question mark - (Question mark) Punctuation mark expressing interrogative intonation. It is placed at the end of the sentence, and in some languages \u200b\u200b(for example, in Spanish) also at the beginning of the sentence upside down ... Font terminology

question mark - A graphic “?” Used to indicate a question mark. In Spanish, two question marks are used: one upside down at the beginning of the sentence and the other at the end. Themes ... ... Technical Translator Reference

question mark - Cm … Synonym dictionary

Question mark

Question mark - 1. A question mark is placed at the end of a simple sentence that contains a question, for example: Did their brother come? Vladimir Ivanovich? (Chekhov). Matchmaking? Yes? (Fedin). Note. A question mark may be placed in ... ... Spelling and Style Reference

Question mark (?) -? Request "?" redirected here. See also other meanings. A question mark (?) Is a punctuation mark, usually placed at the end of a sentence to express a question or doubt. It is found in printed books from the 16th century, however, to express ... ... Wikipedia

question mark - a punctuation mark (?), placed at the end (in some languages, for example, in Spanish, and at the beginning, inverted) of the interrogative sentence. * * * QUESTION SIGN QUESTION SIGN, punctuation mark (?), Placed at the end (in some ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Question mark - Question mark (monk.) About the unjust, mysterious, doubtful. Wed Other appearances, which attracted my eyes while walking along Nevsky, still remain puzzles, a question mark, some kind of history ... ... Michelson’s Big Dictionary of Explanations (Original Spelling)

question mark - The punctuation mark, which is placed: 1) at the end of the interrogative sentence. You will not leave? Not? (Chekhov); 2) optional in interrogative sentences with homogeneous members after each homogeneous member in order to divide the question. Who are you ... ... Dictionary of linguistic terms

Books

  • Virus attack, Igor Budkov. Residents of the virtual world - letters, signs, numbers daily observe the real world from the monitor screen. Adults work on the monitor, children go to school. A question mark serves to ...

Anyone familiar with Old Russian scripts knows that they were created by continuous “ligature” of words without intervals, especially since there were no punctuation marks in them. Only at the end of the 15th century did a dot appear in the texts, at the beginning of the next century a comma joined it, and even later a question mark “registered” on the pages of manuscripts. It is noteworthy that until this moment, its role was played by a semicolon for some time. Following the interrogative I was not slow to appear and

The symbol originates in the Latin word quaestio, which translates as "search for an answer." The letters q and o were used to represent the sign, which were first depicted on the letter one above the other. Over time, the graphic appearance of the sign took the form of an elegant curl with a dot below.

What does the question mark mean?

Russian linguist scientist Fedor Buslaev argued that punctuation (the science of two tasks is to help a person clearly state their thoughts, separating sentences, as well as parts of it from each other, and express emotions. These are, among others, a question mark.

Of course, the very first thing that this symbol means is a question. In it is expressed by the corresponding intonation, which is called interrogative. It may also mean bewilderment or doubt. Sentences with a question mark sometimes express what is called a rhetorical question. It is not asked for the purpose of asking, but in order to express admiration, resentment and similar strong feelings, as well as to encourage the listener, reader to comprehend this or that event. The answer to the rhetorical question is given by the author himself. In a company with an exclamation mark, the interrogative conveys the meaning of extreme surprise.

Where to put it, if you need to express a question

Where do the sentences in the Russian language put a question mark? The symbol is usually located at the end of the sentence, but not only. We consider each case in more detail.

  • The question mark is at the end of a simple sentence expressing the question. ( for example: What are you looking for here? Why does water turn into ice?)
  • The question mark is located inside the interrogative sentence when listing homogeneous members. ( for example: What do you cook - soup? roast? turkey?)
  • In complex sentences, this sign is placed at the end even if all its parts contain a question, even if only the last part of the sentence contains it. ( for example: 1. How long should I wait for the call, or will my turn come soon? 2. He sincerely laughed, and who would have remained indifferent to such a joke?)
  • The question mark is placed at the end:
    1. When the question includes both the main and the subordinate clause. ( for example: Do you know what kind of surprises happen during hiking?)
    2. When it is contained only in the main sentence. ( for example: Do we really do not want a peace?)
    3. If the question is enclosed in the subordinate clause. ( for example: Various bold thoughts prevailed over his inflamed consciousness, although could this at least help his sister?)
  • In a union-free sentence, a question mark is placed at the end:
    1. If the question contains all its parts. ( for example: Where should I go, where to look for a shelter, who will lend me a friendly hand?)
    2. If the question is concluded only in its last part. ( for example: Be honest with me: how long do I have to live?)

Where to put a question mark, if you need to express doubt

When indicating doubt, suspicion, or meditation, the question mark is placed in the middle of the sentence and bracketed: Some people came in robes, prisoners or workers (?) And sat around the fire.

When the question mark can not be put

In a complex sentence, in which the subordinate clause sounds like a question mark, it is not posed. ( for example: I did not begin to tell him why I did not read this book.) However, if the interrogative intonation is too great, then a sentence with an indirect question can be crowned with this sign. ( Example: I can’t figure out how to solve this problem anyway? They were persistently interested in how I became a millionaire?)

Figurative meaning

Sometimes a question mark is mentioned in a speech with allegorical purpose, wanting to express something mysterious, incomprehensible, hidden. In this case, the phrase “question mark” sounds like a metaphor. ( for example: Those events forever remained for me not a clarified mystery, a question mark, some bright, but confused dream.)

Somersault Question Mark

There are languages \u200b\u200bin which this symbol becomes "upside down." For example, in Greek and Old Slavonic (used by the Orthodox Church) languages \u200b\u200bit is written with the hook down, point up. In Spanish, the sign at the end of the interrogative sentence is complemented by its inverted "twin." Turned in a curl to the other side, it adorns Arabic texts. The head turned the question mark and the programming language.

When is a question mark put?

    The question mark is put in two cases: 1) When a specific question is posed, or thoughtfulness is expressed. For example: What is the number today? 2) When surprise is expressed or a rhetorical question is asked, the question mark is used with an exclamation point. For example: you ?!

    Question mark - a punctuation mark, which, as a rule, is put in sentences interrogative for the purpose of utterance, i.e. in sentences containing a question. In addition, this sign is put in rhetorical issues, i.e. questions that do not require a mandatory answer. And here the function of the question mark is rather to draw attention to the problem raised by the author.

    A question mark is placed after a direct question, including after following one after another incomplete interrogative sentences, for example:

    Who is this? Was the commander in chief? (L. Tolstoy).

    Will I fall, pierced by an arrow, or will she fly by? (Pushkin).

    Who are you? Alive? Dead? (A. Block).

    Note. In interrogative sentences with homogeneous members, a question mark may be placed after each homogeneous member in order to divide the question, for example:

    What am I to whom? to them? to the whole universe? (Griboedov).

    A question mark in brackets is placed to express doubt or perplexity of the writer, most often inside the quoted text.

    The question mark is placed in interrogative sentences, when there are interrogative pronouns that are at the beginning of the sentence: who, what, how much, why, why, how, when, or whether the interrogative particle. Sometimes a question mark is put in a sentence, if the question follows from the context, this usually occurs when transmitting direct speech. For example: A stranger asked: Is your dad at home? the verb before the direct speech indicates that the phrase contains a question and therefore a question mark is required.

    The question mark is placed in simple sentences with interrogative intonation, which, as a rule, includes an interrogative pronoun or an interrogative pronoun.

    Where does the sun live?

    Who will tell the baby a bedtime story?

    What is the nightingale singing about?

    A question mark is also placed in unionless suggestions if a direct question is asked.

    Let us ask ourselves: is evil growing or not growing on Earth?

    I do not understand: why are you interested in describing a hurricane?

    He walked home and thought: why is grandfather sick?

    Rhetorical questions that attract the attention of listeners to the problem posed and do not require an answer are also framed by a question mark.

    What is beauty?

    What does the scientist leave behind?

    First of all, it is worth noting that the question mark is one of the punctuation marks. But to determine when to put a question mark is easy. It is necessary to put a question mark in those sentences in which any question is implied and, accordingly, interrogative intonation. For example, what's your name?

    We put a sign at the end of the sentence.

    If we ask a question, then in writing at the end of the sentence there should be a question mark. In oral speech, such phrases have an interrogative intonation.

    In addition, at the beginning of the sentence there may be interrogative words, such as, whoquot ;, whatquot ;, whatquot ;, how muchquot ;, with whom etc.

    In other cases, there is no interrogative word, however interrogative intonation persists. In addition, such questions (without an interrogative word) can be answered in the affirmative (yes) or in the negative (no).

    A question mark is a punctuation mark, which is not put in all sentences containing a question. Question it should be direct:

    In sentences with homogeneous members, a question mark can be placed after each of them, because in oral speech we can pause and raise our voice after each of these homogeneous members. Read more about this here.

    IN indirect issues no question mark.

    This is not just a fictitious rule designed to make our lives even harder. It is due to the difference in intonation in sentences with an indirect question. In fact, it is no different from the intonation of affirmative sentences, and this must be reckoned with.

    Regarding all the rules of punctuation,

    the answers are wonderful given.

    But there are situations in life,

    when questions get into dreams.

    When you try to find the answer painfully,

    all searching in search of concentration,

    then the question is rocky,

    and there is no answer ... only the ellipsis ...

    The one who came up with this interrogative,

    so necessary, but also a very complex sign,

    i didn’t think that he was so tiring,

    when the answer is not found in any way.

    A question mark is put when a question is asked. Despite whether it is a rhetorical question (not requiring an answer) or not. For example: What are you doing ?; How are you?. Well, and rhetorical: Is it really starting to rain? etc

    The question mark is one of the main punctuation marks, which is almost always put at the end of the sentence. The question mark can be in the middle of the sentence and can be enclosed in parentheses, in cases where this punctuation mark indicates doubt - We met a neighbor from the fifth or sixth (?) Floor.

    In written speech, a question mark can sometimes be combined with an exclamation mark or ellipsis to give a sentence a more emotional tone.

Question mark inverted vertically and horizontally by 180

As a rule, in Russian it is hardly possible to meet an inverted question mark. But in Spanish, this sign is important. It is used at the beginning of the sentence and serves as an addition to the main question mark, which, as in all other languages, is traditionally put. Or it may not have anything to do with the main question mark, since intonation in the Spanish language can change. And the first few words in a sentence can be called into question. Also, an inverted question mark can be used not only at the beginning or at the end of sentences, but also in the middle of a sentence. Just before the question word.

Where is the inverted question mark used?

1. The inverted question mark is used in Microsoft Windows operating systems, since it is forbidden to use the traditional question mark.
2. Inverted 180 degrees horizontally a question mark (curl turned in the opposite direction) is used in Arabic.
3. A vertically inverted question mark (ie, a dot at the top and a hook at the bottom) is used in Greek and Church Slavonic.

Perhaps it would be possible to use the question mark inverted and in our language as not interrogative, but rather affirmative and meaning that this is the answer to a question. But! Why additional rules in Russian?

How to write an inverted question mark

Writing it in a file is as easy as shelling pears. Yes, it is not on the keyboard, but it is not a problem. There is a key combination for writing a character. You must press the ALT key and hold it to dial the combination of numbers 0191. In this case, the language should be switched to English.