Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

My grammar beef today: Question marks for sentences that aren't questions.

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » The DU Lounge Donate to DU
 
tuvor Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 09:09 PM
Original message
My grammar beef today: Question marks for sentences that aren't questions.
For example, "I wonder why he did that?"

Or, "I'm not sure?"

Just because someone is puzzled, it doesn't mean that any statement they make about being puzzled is a question.

:crazy:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
Rabrrrrrr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 09:13 PM
Response to Original message
1. I think you're wrong?
I wonder if you would like to retract that?

I'm with you - it's annoying. It's especially annoying when it happens in oral communication, and you can hear the *@*^%$# question mark in the speaker's voice. Young college age women are especially notorious for speaking that way.

You can answer those two questions you offered with: "I don't know - do you wonder why?" and "No, clearly you are not sure."
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Skittles Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 09:19 PM
Response to Original message
2. I'm wondering if I should kick some ass?
:7
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Guava Jelly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 09:21 PM
Response to Original message
3. Actually there are more important things to worry about
then grammar on a internet board.
Not everyone posting here is an english Lit major or an editor.
I am basically a carpenter.
What if i criticized your carpentry skills? (Is that how to use a question mark?) Did I do it right?
I have been out school for over 20 years And the most writing I do is a grocery list and posting on this board.
I am not trying to be a dick really..
I just see a thread like this about every day.And for one who sucks when it comes to proper grammar.
It gets old seeing people gripe about it
:)
peace out
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
knowbody0 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 09:32 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. clap clap clap!
thankyou.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Bucky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 09:40 PM
Response to Reply #3
6. You need to capitalize the word "English." Also put a comma after "dick."
Edited on Mon Sep-04-06 09:40 PM by Bucky
:o)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Guava Jelly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 09:41 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. Thank you
:rofl:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
auntAgonist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 09:47 PM
Response to Reply #7
10. oh and while we're at it ....
it's "than" not "then"

just saying :)

:rofl:

:hi:

aA
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Guava Jelly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 09:50 PM
Response to Reply #10
11. Maybe I can send all my post to you for proof reading.
Then than there thier to too
I never fail to screw those up.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
auntAgonist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 09:55 PM
Response to Reply #11
13. I proof read all of my husband's stuff.
:)

Watch and see just how many of my posts have 'edits'. I'm forever fixing them.

:hi:
aA
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Rabrrrrrr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 09:46 PM
Response to Reply #6
9. And a comma after "Actually", "than" instead of "then",
Edited on Mon Sep-04-06 09:47 PM by Rabrrrrrr
and a period at the end of the first sentence, and a rewording to eliminate the preposition at the end of the sentence... like this:

Actually (comma) there are more important things to worry about (about which to worry)

then (than) grammar on a (an) internet (Internet) board.
Not everyone posting here is an english (English) Lit (Lit.) major or an editor.
I am basically a carpenter.
What if i (I) criticized your carpentry skills? (Is that how to use a question mark?) Did I do it right?
I have been out school for over 20 (twenty) years (period) And the most writing I do is a grocery list and posting on this board. (started with unneccessary "And")
I am not trying to be a dick (comma) really.. (just one period)
I just see a thread like this about every day.And (space before "And") for one who sucks when it comes to proper grammar. (sentence fragment)
It gets old seeing people gripe about it (period) (that is a passive sentence; rewrite as "Seeing people griping about it daily becomes old.")

:hi:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Guava Jelly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 09:52 PM
Response to Reply #9
12. Ok now your just being mean
:)
:rofl:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
tuvor Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 10:05 PM
Response to Reply #3
15. More important things? Then don't hang out in the Lounge.
I'm just shooting the breeze like 99% of the rest of us. Is that all right with you?

Look, I've never criticized anyone for their English skills, because #1--It gets no one anywhere, and #2--I fuck up more than I might like to admit, and #3--I know damn well that I'll always be deficient compared to any other person in one way or another.

Like carpentry, for example.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Guava Jelly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 10:09 PM
Response to Reply #15
16. Yeah it's ok
I really wasn't trying to ruffle any feathers.
I just have been hounded alot by the grammer police.
And i am a bit sensitive to it.
About hanging out in the lounge.
I love it here far to much not to hang out here.
peace out
And I am going to bed.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
tuvor Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 10:12 PM
Response to Reply #16
17. Cool.
As for the grammar police, fuck 'em. (Now, THOSE are people with no lives.)

Cheers!

:hi:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Rufus T. Firefly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-05-06 07:10 AM
Response to Reply #3
19. Actually, it's not grammar.
It's punctuation. :evilgrin:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
datasuspect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-05-06 07:19 AM
Response to Reply #3
20. you are wrong
English grammar is the singular most important thing to worry about.

i worry about it all the time. then i take my meds and everything is okay.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
idgiehkt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 09:35 PM
Response to Original message
5.  I like it?
Edited on Mon Sep-04-06 09:35 PM by idgiehkt
I mean, it's kind of a turn on for me? In a fetishistic kind of way...complete my thoughts? I'm serious.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
leftofthedial Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 09:45 PM
Response to Original message
8. I don't know why that bugs you?
I wonder if you could just ignore it?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Haole Girl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 10:03 PM
Response to Original message
14. Not I.
I forget most question marks, but I make up for it with exclamation marks!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Kali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-04-06 10:13 PM
Response to Original message
18. I'm guilty of this. Sorry?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
billyskank Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-05-06 07:22 AM
Response to Original message
21. Possibly has something to do with the north american/australian habit
of intonating (intoning? whatever) such sentences as if they WERE questions.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
datasuspect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-05-06 07:22 AM
Response to Original message
22. you stay classy san diego
i'm ron burgundy?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
leeroysphitz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-05-06 08:42 AM
Response to Original message
23. I know what you mean¿
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Left Is Write Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-05-06 11:17 AM
Response to Original message
24. I will occasionally use a question mark as in your first example...
the reason is that I'm trying to convey the inflection I might use when actually speaking aloud. Sometimes the "I wonder..." sentence will be a declarative one; other times, I would say it with a questioning inflection.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
begin_within Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-05-06 12:05 PM
Response to Original message
25. IBTL?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Thu Dec 26th 2024, 02:13 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » The DU Lounge Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC