Thread: Punctuating either, or questions.

In such cases do you do it like this? Or should it be done as below?

Do you do it like this, or combine the questions with a single question mark?

Sometimes the second option looks more attractive, other times it appears to result in the second sentence being fragmentary or starting with a conjunction.
"Are you going? And what will you do when you get there?"

Is there a recognised protocol?

hi Olly
you just reminded me of Hamlet and this
''to be or not to be''?

inhere there is one question mark.
I havenever thought about it.
I studied grammar at university and as far as I know you have put to a question mark after each question to indicate it is a question and not exclamation question.
so the first option is what I was taught to be correct.

That reminded me of Tony Hancock, who alleged that everyone got the intonation wrong, it should be,

To be or not to be? That is the question?

Originally Posted by Olly Buckle

That reminded me of Tony Hancock, who alleged that everyone got the intonation wrong, it should be,

To be or not to be? That is the question?

NOT

to be or not to be? Is that a question?

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No Matter, try again, fail again, fail better."
(Samuel Beckett)

Punctuating disjunctive (either/or) questions might be seen as a matter of choice in cases where the conjunction "or" is included. However, it can be argued that the difference between retaining the compound question or separating the clauses into two distinct questions is one of intended emphasis:

Wanna dance? Or would you rather just suck face? (Norman to Ethel; On Golden Pond) is often quoted as:
Wanna dance or would you rather just suck face?

In conversational English, conjunctions and/or verbs can be dropped from later clauses in compound questions, rendering such clauses subordinate to the leading clause. As such, proper grammar would dictate that the disjunctive question be treated as a single compound question. Common practice suggests that punctuating these forms of disjunctive questions remains a matter of choice or intended emphasis.

Are we going to game? The pub? Stay here and drink ourselves blind?

ETA:

"Are you going? And what will you do when you get there?"

Whether you choose to retain or drop the conjunction "and" in this example, it remains the form of compound question known as a material fallacy - the second part of the question presumes or preempts the answer to the first. The only way to avoid that is to make the second question a conditional: If so, then ...

I think it is a question of pace or timing. How much of a stop do you want between the two clauses? C.M.

the form of compound question known as a material fallacy - the second part of the question presumes or pre-empts the answer to the first

I do like that concept, I can imagine pointing out the fallacy being a good humorous tool, possibly a pedant coming unexpectedly into contact with the real world.

I try not to ask questions in what I write. If it is in dialogue I just keep it to one question if I can.

Originally Posted by Robdemanc

I try not to ask questions in what I write. If it is in dialogue I just keep it to one question if I can.

I would agree with that.
less questions andmore asnwers I think.

Originally Posted by Olly Buckle

That reminded me of Tony Hancock, who alleged that everyone got the intonation wrong, it should be,

To be or not to be? That is the question?

I like that interpretation. After all, isn't Hamlet supposed to be in serious self-doubt at the time?

Originally Posted by Gamer_2k4

I like that interpretation. After all, isn't Hamlet supposed to be in serious self-doubt at the time?

why would he self doubt?
I thought is he was a king and in a position of power.
I find it quite weak and ironice that a king with all the powers in his side, should self doubt in this way.
it is very unbrave like, unusual for garish and strongheaded kings to think of terminating themselves.
it is does not wash with me. according to all recorded stories and fights and battles kings never had time to self doubt, they did not have time or even allow themselves to think they could run away, as it has never been recorded in hisotry, au contraire, the were always in battles fighting ferociously.
it made me think of Romeo and Juliette to be honest the concept of self terminating.

Originally Posted by Nacian

I would agree with that.
less questions andmore asnwers I think.

I think questions, unless direct questions from a character, should always be presented in subtle ways to the reader. So rather than having the character thinking: "Why did this happen? Where will it end? I think the reader should already be thinking these things based on the plot.

Originally Posted by Nacian

why would he self doubt?
I thought is he was a king and in a position of power.
I find it quite weak and ironice that a king with all the powers in his side, should self doubt in this way.

Hamlet was not a king; he was the adolescent son of a king (a prince), whose father had been murdered by his uncle in conspiracy with his mother - he knows this because his father's ghost began to haunt the castle and tell anyone who would listen. His intended fiance, and cousin, had been driven mad. His uncle, now Regent, plotted to kill him. I think the boy was entitled to a moment of self-doubt - although his doubt was more about whether to stay and fight for his right to the throne, thereby condemning his mother for treason and regicide, or to forgo his claim and leave.

Originally Posted by Cran

Hamlet was not a king; he was the adolescent son of a king (a prince), whose father had been murdered by his uncle in conspiracy with his mother - he knows this because his father's ghost began to haunt the castle and tell anyone who would listen. His intended fiance, and cousin, had been driven mad. His uncle, now Regent, plotted to kill him. I think the boy was entitled to a moment of self-doubt - although his doubt was more about whether to stay and fight for his right to the throne, thereby condemning his mother for treason and regicide, or to forgo his claim and leave.

I am sure Hamlet solliloquy was about wether to terminate his life or not:

''In the play this is a soliloquy; Hamlet speaks it to himself, alone onstage. All others leave the room with the king, Claudius, and the queen, Gertrude. In some productions of the play, Ophelia, Claudius and Gertrude remain and spy on Hamlet during this, making it a monologue. In this soliloquy, Hamlet struggles with his internal conflict of whether or not to kill himself in light of recent events which have depressed him greatly.''