THE INTERROGATION POINT
523. An Interrogation Point should be placed after every direct question.
A direct question is one that can be answered. An indirect question is one that cannot be answered. If I say, Why do you not study?, I am asking a direct question to which you can give an answer; but if I say, I wonder why you do not study, I have asked an indirect question which does not require a direct answer.
- Why do you not go? (Direct)
- He asked why you did not go. (Indirect)
524. When an interrogative clause is repeated in the body of another sentence, use the interrogation point after the clause, and begin the clause with a capital letter. For example:
- The question, Shall we be involved in war?, should be settled by the people.
THE EXCLAMATION POINT
525. The exclamation point should be placed after words, phrases or sentences that express strong emotion. For example:
- Oh! When shall peace reign again?
- Alas! I am undone!
- To the firing line! the battle rages!
526. Ordinarily the exclamation point is placed immediately after the interjection or word used as an interjection, but frequently when the strong emotion continues throughout the expression, the exclamation point is placed at the close of the sentence instead of after the interjection, even though the interjection comes first in the sentence. For example:
- On, Comrades, on!
- Charge, Chester, charge!