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“Why not?” vs. “Why not.”
The 2019 Stack Overflow Developer Survey Results Are InShould rhetorical questions end with a period?Question mark or period to end a rhetorical sentenceHow to punctuate a quoted question within a question?Is a question mark needed at the end of a question if the sentence ends with a period or an exclamation mark?3 Final Questions on BrE Punctuation … Proper Insertion of Commas (BBC)Must the word after a question mark be capitalised where the question mark does not terminate the sentence?Larry Trask says commas should not come after dialog tags - do you agree?How should a question which quotes a question be punctuated?Punctuating one sentence that has multiple speakersIn BrE, is the comma correctly placed outside the ending quote mark in this sentence?Position of punctuation in proper title with quotesPunctuation rules around quotation marks
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
My question is: is there flexibility in how one can punctuate the phrase "Why not?"
The answer may seem obvious at first...it is a question after all. However, it's also a common idiom, and I am wondering if that offers a choice in how it's punctuated. I became curious about this after seeing dictionaries, including Cambridge and Collins, using the phrase in example sentences sans the question mark:
"Do you want Italian food tonight?" "Sure, why not."
.
I said we were, too, so he said why not let him take us to dinner somewhere and then all come together.
The second example sounds especially wrong, and as if it's missing quotation marks. Of course, most dictionary examples of the phrase in a sentence included question marks. So are the provided examples above errors?
Edit: The first comment suggesting this is a possible duplicate links to a statement, not a question.
phrases idioms punctuation question-mark
asked Apr 29 '18 at 1:40
Christopher IssacChristopher Issac
336115
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 3 hours ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
|
show 5 more comments
My question is: is there flexibility in how one can punctuate the phrase "Why not?"
The answer may seem obvious at first...it is a question after all. However, it's also a common idiom, and I am wondering if that offers a choice in how it's punctuated. I became curious about this after seeing dictionaries, including Cambridge and Collins, using the phrase in example sentences sans the question mark:
"Do you want Italian food tonight?" "Sure, why not."
.
I said we were, too, so he said why not let him take us to dinner somewhere and then all come together.
The second example sounds especially wrong, and as if it's missing quotation marks. Of course, most dictionary examples of the phrase in a sentence included question marks. So are the provided examples above errors?
Edit: The first comment suggesting this is a possible duplicate links to a statement, not a question.
phrases idioms punctuation question-mark
asked Apr 29 '18 at 1:40
Christopher IssacChristopher Issac
336115
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 3 hours ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
2
Possible duplicate of Question mark or period to end a rhetorical sentence
– Bread
Apr 29 '18 at 1:57
1
@Bread - I don't think the example "question" counts as a question in what you've linked to. "Maybe you could be a security guard there and enforce whatever the WalMart policy is at that location," is a statement. It also includes no idioms, which is at the heart of this question -- if the fact that it's an idiom/common phrase has any bearing on punctuation choice.
– Christopher Issac
Apr 29 '18 at 2:00
I apologize for that. There are several questions that cover the punctuation of rhetorical questions. This one I hope is more accurately representative of the theme you have going here: english.stackexchange.com/questions/12760/…
– Bread
Apr 29 '18 at 2:05
1
I think you're right to be sniffy at this Yahoo guide. There are Questions (Aren't there?)and Exclamations(What the devil!) and periphrastic imperatives (Would you mind shutting the door), and Rhetorical questions (Whatever will he think of next?) all jumbled up.
– Hugh
Apr 29 '18 at 4:57
1
Perhaps we should keep this one open to collect better sourced answers and to cover the punctuation of the stream-of-consciousness example.
– Hugh
Apr 29 '18 at 5:09
|
show 5 more comments
My question is: is there flexibility in how one can punctuate the phrase "Why not?"
The answer may seem obvious at first...it is a question after all. However, it's also a common idiom, and I am wondering if that offers a choice in how it's punctuated. I became curious about this after seeing dictionaries, including Cambridge and Collins, using the phrase in example sentences sans the question mark:
"Do you want Italian food tonight?" "Sure, why not."
.
I said we were, too, so he said why not let him take us to dinner somewhere and then all come together.
The second example sounds especially wrong, and as if it's missing quotation marks. Of course, most dictionary examples of the phrase in a sentence included question marks. So are the provided examples above errors?
Edit: The first comment suggesting this is a possible duplicate links to a statement, not a question.
phrases idioms punctuation question-mark
asked Apr 29 '18 at 1:40
Christopher IssacChristopher Issac
336115
My question is: is there flexibility in how one can punctuate the phrase "Why not?"
The answer may seem obvious at first...it is a question after all. However, it's also a common idiom, and I am wondering if that offers a choice in how it's punctuated. I became curious about this after seeing dictionaries, including Cambridge and Collins, using the phrase in example sentences sans the question mark:
"Do you want Italian food tonight?" "Sure, why not."
.
I said we were, too, so he said why not let him take us to dinner somewhere and then all come together.
The second example sounds especially wrong, and as if it's missing quotation marks. Of course, most dictionary examples of the phrase in a sentence included question marks. So are the provided examples above errors?
Edit: The first comment suggesting this is a possible duplicate links to a statement, not a question.
phrases idioms punctuation question-mark
phrases idioms punctuation question-mark
asked Apr 29 '18 at 1:40
Christopher IssacChristopher Issac
336115
asked Apr 29 '18 at 1:40
Christopher IssacChristopher Issac
336115
edited Apr 29 '18 at 2:01
Christopher Issac
asked Apr 29 '18 at 1:40
Christopher IssacChristopher Issac
336115
asked Apr 29 '18 at 1:40
Christopher IssacChristopher Issac
336115
asked Apr 29 '18 at 1:40
Christopher IssacChristopher Issac
336115
336115
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 3 hours ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 3 hours ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
2
Possible duplicate of Question mark or period to end a rhetorical sentence
– Bread
Apr 29 '18 at 1:57
1
@Bread - I don't think the example "question" counts as a question in what you've linked to. "Maybe you could be a security guard there and enforce whatever the WalMart policy is at that location," is a statement. It also includes no idioms, which is at the heart of this question -- if the fact that it's an idiom/common phrase has any bearing on punctuation choice.
– Christopher Issac
Apr 29 '18 at 2:00
I apologize for that. There are several questions that cover the punctuation of rhetorical questions. This one I hope is more accurately representative of the theme you have going here: english.stackexchange.com/questions/12760/…
– Bread
Apr 29 '18 at 2:05
1
I think you're right to be sniffy at this Yahoo guide. There are Questions (Aren't there?)and Exclamations(What the devil!) and periphrastic imperatives (Would you mind shutting the door), and Rhetorical questions (Whatever will he think of next?) all jumbled up.
– Hugh
Apr 29 '18 at 4:57
1
Perhaps we should keep this one open to collect better sourced answers and to cover the punctuation of the stream-of-consciousness example.
– Hugh
Apr 29 '18 at 5:09
|
show 5 more comments
2
Possible duplicate of Question mark or period to end a rhetorical sentence
– Bread
Apr 29 '18 at 1:57
1
@Bread - I don't think the example "question" counts as a question in what you've linked to. "Maybe you could be a security guard there and enforce whatever the WalMart policy is at that location," is a statement. It also includes no idioms, which is at the heart of this question -- if the fact that it's an idiom/common phrase has any bearing on punctuation choice.
– Christopher Issac
Apr 29 '18 at 2:00
I apologize for that. There are several questions that cover the punctuation of rhetorical questions. This one I hope is more accurately representative of the theme you have going here: english.stackexchange.com/questions/12760/…
– Bread
Apr 29 '18 at 2:05
1
I think you're right to be sniffy at this Yahoo guide. There are Questions (Aren't there?)and Exclamations(What the devil!) and periphrastic imperatives (Would you mind shutting the door), and Rhetorical questions (Whatever will he think of next?) all jumbled up.
– Hugh
Apr 29 '18 at 4:57
1
Perhaps we should keep this one open to collect better sourced answers and to cover the punctuation of the stream-of-consciousness example.
– Hugh
Apr 29 '18 at 5:09
2
2
Possible duplicate of Question mark or period to end a rhetorical sentence
– Bread
Apr 29 '18 at 1:57
Possible duplicate of Question mark or period to end a rhetorical sentence
– Bread
Apr 29 '18 at 1:57
1
1
@Bread - I don't think the example "question" counts as a question in what you've linked to. "Maybe you could be a security guard there and enforce whatever the WalMart policy is at that location," is a statement. It also includes no idioms, which is at the heart of this question -- if the fact that it's an idiom/common phrase has any bearing on punctuation choice.
– Christopher Issac
Apr 29 '18 at 2:00
@Bread - I don't think the example "question" counts as a question in what you've linked to. "Maybe you could be a security guard there and enforce whatever the WalMart policy is at that location," is a statement. It also includes no idioms, which is at the heart of this question -- if the fact that it's an idiom/common phrase has any bearing on punctuation choice.
– Christopher Issac
Apr 29 '18 at 2:00
I apologize for that. There are several questions that cover the punctuation of rhetorical questions. This one I hope is more accurately representative of the theme you have going here: english.stackexchange.com/questions/12760/…
– Bread
Apr 29 '18 at 2:05
I apologize for that. There are several questions that cover the punctuation of rhetorical questions. This one I hope is more accurately representative of the theme you have going here: english.stackexchange.com/questions/12760/…
– Bread
Apr 29 '18 at 2:05
1
1
I think you're right to be sniffy at this Yahoo guide. There are Questions (Aren't there?)and Exclamations(What the devil!) and periphrastic imperatives (Would you mind shutting the door), and Rhetorical questions (Whatever will he think of next?) all jumbled up.
– Hugh
Apr 29 '18 at 4:57
I think you're right to be sniffy at this Yahoo guide. There are Questions (Aren't there?)and Exclamations(What the devil!) and periphrastic imperatives (Would you mind shutting the door), and Rhetorical questions (Whatever will he think of next?) all jumbled up.
– Hugh
Apr 29 '18 at 4:57
1
1
Perhaps we should keep this one open to collect better sourced answers and to cover the punctuation of the stream-of-consciousness example.
– Hugh
Apr 29 '18 at 5:09
Perhaps we should keep this one open to collect better sourced answers and to cover the punctuation of the stream-of-consciousness example.
– Hugh
Apr 29 '18 at 5:09
|
show 5 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Yes, there's flexibility. Why not.
answered Apr 29 '18 at 18:40
9fyj'j55-8ujfr5yhjky-'tt6yhkjj9fyj'j55-8ujfr5yhjky-'tt6yhkjj
4,42021546
add a comment |
As this is an idiom, the punctuation depends entirely upon how the speaker is pronouncing it.
"Would you like an orange?" I asked her. "Sure, why not?" she said.
This implies that she raised the intonation on the word not and pronounced the sentence as an actual question.
"Would you like an orange?" I asked her. "Sure, why not." she said.
This implies that she did not raise the intonation on the word not and pronounced the sentence like a declarative statement.
In other words, punctuate it to match the pronunciation.
answered Jul 15 '18 at 16:33
Kenneth OdleKenneth Odle
1043
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Yes, there's flexibility. Why not.
answered Apr 29 '18 at 18:40
9fyj'j55-8ujfr5yhjky-'tt6yhkjj9fyj'j55-8ujfr5yhjky-'tt6yhkjj
4,42021546
add a comment |
Yes, there's flexibility. Why not.
answered Apr 29 '18 at 18:40
9fyj'j55-8ujfr5yhjky-'tt6yhkjj9fyj'j55-8ujfr5yhjky-'tt6yhkjj
4,42021546
add a comment |
Yes, there's flexibility. Why not.
answered Apr 29 '18 at 18:40
9fyj'j55-8ujfr5yhjky-'tt6yhkjj9fyj'j55-8ujfr5yhjky-'tt6yhkjj
4,42021546
Yes, there's flexibility. Why not.
answered Apr 29 '18 at 18:40
9fyj'j55-8ujfr5yhjky-'tt6yhkjj9fyj'j55-8ujfr5yhjky-'tt6yhkjj
4,42021546
answered Apr 29 '18 at 18:40
9fyj'j55-8ujfr5yhjky-'tt6yhkjj9fyj'j55-8ujfr5yhjky-'tt6yhkjj
4,42021546
answered Apr 29 '18 at 18:40
9fyj'j55-8ujfr5yhjky-'tt6yhkjj9fyj'j55-8ujfr5yhjky-'tt6yhkjj
4,42021546
answered Apr 29 '18 at 18:40
9fyj'j55-8ujfr5yhjky-'tt6yhkjj9fyj'j55-8ujfr5yhjky-'tt6yhkjj
4,42021546
4,42021546
add a comment |
add a comment |
As this is an idiom, the punctuation depends entirely upon how the speaker is pronouncing it.
"Would you like an orange?" I asked her. "Sure, why not?" she said.
This implies that she raised the intonation on the word not and pronounced the sentence as an actual question.
"Would you like an orange?" I asked her. "Sure, why not." she said.
This implies that she did not raise the intonation on the word not and pronounced the sentence like a declarative statement.
In other words, punctuate it to match the pronunciation.
answered Jul 15 '18 at 16:33
Kenneth OdleKenneth Odle
1043
add a comment |
As this is an idiom, the punctuation depends entirely upon how the speaker is pronouncing it.
"Would you like an orange?" I asked her. "Sure, why not?" she said.
This implies that she raised the intonation on the word not and pronounced the sentence as an actual question.
"Would you like an orange?" I asked her. "Sure, why not." she said.
This implies that she did not raise the intonation on the word not and pronounced the sentence like a declarative statement.
In other words, punctuate it to match the pronunciation.
answered Jul 15 '18 at 16:33
Kenneth OdleKenneth Odle
1043
add a comment |
As this is an idiom, the punctuation depends entirely upon how the speaker is pronouncing it.
"Would you like an orange?" I asked her. "Sure, why not?" she said.
This implies that she raised the intonation on the word not and pronounced the sentence as an actual question.
"Would you like an orange?" I asked her. "Sure, why not." she said.
This implies that she did not raise the intonation on the word not and pronounced the sentence like a declarative statement.
In other words, punctuate it to match the pronunciation.
answered Jul 15 '18 at 16:33
Kenneth OdleKenneth Odle
1043
As this is an idiom, the punctuation depends entirely upon how the speaker is pronouncing it.
"Would you like an orange?" I asked her. "Sure, why not?" she said.
This implies that she raised the intonation on the word not and pronounced the sentence as an actual question.
"Would you like an orange?" I asked her. "Sure, why not." she said.
This implies that she did not raise the intonation on the word not and pronounced the sentence like a declarative statement.
In other words, punctuate it to match the pronunciation.
answered Jul 15 '18 at 16:33
Kenneth OdleKenneth Odle
1043
answered Jul 15 '18 at 16:33
Kenneth OdleKenneth Odle
1043
answered Jul 15 '18 at 16:33
Kenneth OdleKenneth Odle
1043
answered Jul 15 '18 at 16:33
Kenneth OdleKenneth Odle
1043
1043
add a comment |
add a comment |
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2
Possible duplicate of Question mark or period to end a rhetorical sentence
– Bread
Apr 29 '18 at 1:57
1
@Bread - I don't think the example "question" counts as a question in what you've linked to. "Maybe you could be a security guard there and enforce whatever the WalMart policy is at that location," is a statement. It also includes no idioms, which is at the heart of this question -- if the fact that it's an idiom/common phrase has any bearing on punctuation choice.
– Christopher Issac
Apr 29 '18 at 2:00
I apologize for that. There are several questions that cover the punctuation of rhetorical questions. This one I hope is more accurately representative of the theme you have going here: english.stackexchange.com/questions/12760/…
– Bread
Apr 29 '18 at 2:05
1
I think you're right to be sniffy at this Yahoo guide. There are Questions (Aren't there?)and Exclamations(What the devil!) and periphrastic imperatives (Would you mind shutting the door), and Rhetorical questions (Whatever will he think of next?) all jumbled up.
– Hugh
Apr 29 '18 at 4:57
1
Perhaps we should keep this one open to collect better sourced answers and to cover the punctuation of the stream-of-consciousness example.
– Hugh
Apr 29 '18 at 5:09