Does a rhetorical question have to have a question mark?

16 posts / 0 new

Sun, 2012-09-30 22:08

The obvious answer is “Yes” but I’m not so sure. If I say, “How cool is that?” I’m not really asking a question, am I? I’m making a statement that I think it’s cool.

So shouldn’t it really read, “How cool is that!”

Just a thought.

Sun, 2012-09-30 22:57

grover

Reminds me of Blackadder explaining to Baldrick about what a rhetorical quesion is. Blackadder: What is this? Baldrick: A potatoe Blackadder: No, it's a rhetorical question. Baldrick: No, it's definately a potatoe. I think it should have a question mark because you're asking a question still, just not wanting an answer??

Mon, 2012-10-01 00:17

alex_tomlin

Do I know what rhetorical means? Definitely a question mark. Rhetorical or not, it's still a question!

Mon, 2012-10-01 00:23

denni1

I don't use a q mark with a rhetorical question. Maybe officially you have to xx

Mon, 2012-10-01 09:20

denni1

Oh yeah. Wi that incline thingy at the end of the sentence !

Mon, 2012-10-01 10:35

karl_wiggins

Haha, they do that, don't they? "My name is Bruce?"

Mon, 2012-10-01 10:38

denni1

S'not just Aussie land ? It's Scot land, middle? class? kids?

Mon, 2012-10-01 10:54

blighters rock

It should be up to the author. Artistic license needs airing and rules need to be broken. Personally, I prefer the exclamation mark after 'How cool is that'. It gives the line a sense of joy and wonder. If a facial expression was given to join the statement, and I reckon it is a statement, it would be one of incredulity and wonderment (in realisation of something) rather than of ponderance and questioning (in thought). Aussies only introduce themselves as a question because they have an identity crisis and can't quite abide the very real notion that their blood is even more English than that of homegrown Englishmen.

Mon, 2012-10-01 10:58

denni1

Aw .. That's bit harsh. Wot aboot that Rolph Harris n his didgery-doo little boys Dx

Mon, 2012-10-01 11:05

#10

denni1

Aw .. That's bit harsh. Wot aboot that Rolph Harris n his didgery-doo little boys Dx

Mon, 2012-10-01 11:51

#11

h jenkins

Good question ... as it were. In general, a rhetorical question in written form should still have a question mark as it's a grammatical rule. However, the example you gave is a bit more complicated as 'how' and 'what' contain double possibilities within them. What I mean (and there's an example) is that the sense can be questioning or exclamatory. 'How cool is that' is an exclamatory statement in the context you intend it. If you were to use 'how cool is that' when talking of the water in a bathtub say, then it's clearly a question. I think that you could make a case for using either a question mark or an exclamation mark though I think that you should be guided by the intention. Perhaps a way to decide would be to imagine putting voice to it. If your character stresses 'cool', then it's framed as a question (albeit rhetorical) but if he/she stresses 'that', then it's an exclamatory statement. It's not a rule of course, but I think it might be a way to proceed that you can justify. Helvigo Jenkins

Helvigo Jenkins

Mon, 2012-10-01 13:19

#12

andrea

I think you should just say 'That's kewl. Innit' and have done with it. Long time no see, Karl, hope you're well. http://www.ukauthors.com

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Mon, 2012-10-01 14:17

#13

karl_wiggins

Hey Andrea, how are you babe? I think grammatical rules are made to be broken. In English Language at school we were taught never to start a sentence with the word 'And' but rightly or wrongly it seems to be common practice. I do it all the time. My old mate, Poet Jude, recently wrote that she's now comfortable stating a paragraph with the word 'But' and although I initially I disagreed - prefering 'However' - I eventually came around to her way of thinking. One grammatical error, however, that really gets me is when the author writes 'of' instead of 'have,' as in, "I should of done this."

Mon, 2012-10-01 18:56

#14

Highhat

No questionmark in my opinion- just an exclamation mark. It is a statement not a question, innit!

Mon, 2012-10-01 21:40

#15

andrea

I agree, Karl, grammatical rules are meant to be broken (as long as you understand them first). And, But, So or Then, eh, Karl? 'I should of done this'....arrrrghhhh! Hey, regards to Poet Jude. Innit :) http://www.ukauthors.com

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Mon, 2012-10-01 22:07

#16

karl_wiggins

I'll pass on your regards to Poet J.