open letter to everyone

[serene]

The punctuation mark "?" is NOT an abbreviation for the word "question".

Okthxbye!

Comments

[elissaann.livejournal.com]

?

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

*grin*

Now, see, it *is* shorthand for a questioning look or something. But it just doesn't work in place of the word "question" because it messes up the sentence.

"I have a question for you." becomes "I have a? for you," and I get all confuzzled. I hate it.

Today it was "Quick? about bisexuality." That doesn't even make *sense*! I mean, I guess I was slow about bisexuality, not quick, or something, but...

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I'd at least put spaces around it. (I don't type "Quickquestion about..." either.) For me, at least, if I read "Quick ? about..." I can parse it better.

I suppose what I'd more likely use myself is "Quick Q about...", and only if I have to be really fast. Most times I just type things out.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Now, see, it *is* shorthand for a questioning look or something. But it just doesn't work in place of the word "question" because it messes up the sentence.

Aaaah. Now, I am much less confused. :)

[hobbitblue.livejournal.com]

!

*giggle*

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

@$#%#%#$%#$!

(Silly person!)

[juliansinger.livejournal.com]

I use it once in awhile on MUSHes, but that's as, like, the only symbol in the sentence, not as something which /makes no sense in the rest of the sentence/. Ahem.

[nmc.livejournal.com]

k.

[jb98.livejournal.com]

Of course not, the punctuation mark "?" is an abbreviation for the word "huh".

[epi-lj.livejournal.com]

Also: In English, you do not need to prefix questions with the word, "Question." In spoken English, a slight rise in tone at the end of the sentence indicates a question. In written English, a question mark at the end of a sentence indicates a question.

Examples:

User: What speed is the network card in my computer?
Me: One hundred megabits per second.

User: Question: What speed is the ne--
Me: [Insert diatribe on how in English you do not need to prefix questions with the word, "Question."]

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

But 'Question:' can be a short way of saying, "May I ask you a question?".

[epi-lj.livejournal.com]

What's the point of asking, "May I ask you a question," immediately prefixed to the question itself without any pause for a response?

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

It gives the questionee a split-second of extra mental preparation time, in that they know already to parse the coming sentence as a question. It's also a slightly inadequate attempt to be polite.