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When to Use a Slash (/)
1. We use slashes to separate parts of a website address (URL) on the Internet. Examples: 2. We use the slash to form abbreviations. Examples: 3. We use slashes in dates to separate day, month and year. Examples: 4. We use slashes to indicate fractions. Examples: 5. We use the slash to indicate the word “OR”…
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Backslash vs Forward Slash
What is a slash? what is the symbol (\) called? What is the symbol (/) called? The symbol (\) is called a backslash, while (/) is called a forward slash, which is also known as a virgule, a stroke or even an oblique dash. Thus there are two types of slashes in the English language: a backslash (\) and a forward slash (/).…
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Indirect Questions and Question Marks
When to Use a Period Use a period if the question is actually disguised as a statement that is subtly trying to have a question answered. Like this: I wonder if I can sit here. – this is asking a question subtly, but it’s being used as a statement, so a period is used instead of a…
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When and How to Use Question Marks
The question mark is an important part of the English language and was developed sometime around the 18th Century. We use a question mark after an interrogative sentence in English. Many people use it incorrectly or don’t use it when required. Here we are going to explain how and when to use the question mark (?) in English.…
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Multiple Question Marks
In informal writing multiple question marks can be used to express excitement or increased confusion about something (it depends on the context). In more formal writing and fiction writing you wouldn’t expect to see multiple question marks in a row unless the writer was trying to show a text message that a character received from a friend…
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Question Marks with Other Punctuation
The most common way that a question mark will be combined with other punctuation is with an exclamation mark. This indicates that a question is being asked whilst shocked or angry. When the two are combined, this is known as an interrobang. It is usually expressed as two separate punctuation marks ‘?!’ but there are some word processors…
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Sentences with Parentheses
Parentheses work much the same way as quotation marks. If the question is being asked within the parentheses but not the whole sentence, then the question mark would appear within the parentheses to highlight this. If, however, the question was being asked as a whole and parentheses were being used to simply add more information, then…
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Where to Put a Question Mark
Depending on the structure of a sentence a question mark might need to be placed in different positions, so it’s good to understand these general rules. Sentences with Quotation Marks If your question is asked by the person who said the original quote then the question mark must be placed inside to indicate this. If…
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The Question Mark (?)
What is a Question Mark? A question mark is the bit of punctuation you add at the end of a question to indicate that you are actually inquiring about something. It looks like this ‘?’ and you add it whenever you ask a question in a bit of writing to show that a question has been asked.…