Punctuation question.
What is it called when you ask the audience a question in a piece of prose and what is the accepted punctuation structure for this kind of writing.
Examples:
> "How?" you may ask? Well, let me tell you!
> You may be thinking, "Why or how or when," but that is beside the point.
> Do not presume to ask, "punctuation is of little consequence in this day and age!"
Those examples are what I think the punctuation should look like, but I can't be sure. Any help appreciated.
>>8247598
that's just a rhetorical question
first example is ok except it doesn't need the second question mark (after "ask")
second example is just missing a question mark
third example is not phrased as a question, it's just a statement
>>8247604
thanks
>>8247598
>you may ask
This is a statement. The "conditional element" you find in a question is in the "may," so a question mark would be redundant. The "How?" part is okay, because you're stating they may ask.
Also, some sentences take the form of a question that don't need question marks if they aren't interrogative.
For instance, "Who gives a shit," is only interrogative if you are legit asking who gives a shit. Most of time it's a statement, which is saying "No one gives a shit."
Other statements in the form of questions could be:
>"You're gay, aren't you."
(states that you're gay)
>"How dare you call me gay."/"How could you."
(accusation, not interrogative)
>"How gay are you."
(states that you're gay)
