When to Use Question Marks Inside or Outside Quotes?

A Quick Overview

The placement of a question mark is dependent upon the type of sentence. When the question mark is part of a direct question, it should be placed outside of the quotation marks. If the sentence is a statement containing a quote that is a question, the question mark should be placed inside the quotation marks.

Using a Question Mark with a Direct Question

When forming a direct question, the question mark should always be placed outside of the quotation marks. This type of question is a direct inquiry, such as "What did she say?". The question mark should be placed at the end of the sentence, outside of the quotation marks.

Using a Question Mark with a Statement Containing a Quote

When a statement contains a quote that is a question, the question mark should be placed inside the quotation marks. This type of sentence is considered a statement, but it contains a quote that is a question, such as She asked, "What did you say?". In this instance, the sentence is a statement, so the question mark should be placed inside the quotation marks.

Using a Question Mark with Indirect Questions

When using an indirect question, such as She wondered what I said, the question mark should also be placed outside of the quotation marks. This type of sentence is not a direct inquiry, so it should not contain a question mark within the quotation marks.

Using a Question Mark with Titles

When using a question mark in conjunction with a title, the title should be enclosed in quotation marks. If the title is a direct question, the question mark should be placed outside of the quotation marks. For example, "Do you know the answer?" is the title of a book.

Using a Question Mark with Tag Questions

When using a tag question, the question mark should always be placed outside of the quotation marks. This type of question is a statement followed by a question, such as She said it was true, didn't she? The question mark should be placed at the end of the sentence, outside of the quotation marks.

Using a Question Mark with Unfinished Quotes

When a quote is unfinished and a question mark is needed, the question mark should be placed inside the quotation marks. This type of sentence is a statement that contains an unfinished quote, such as She said, "What did you. For this sentence, the question mark should be placed inside the quotation marks.

Using a Question Mark with an Unfinished Direct Question

When an unfinished direct question is used, the question mark should be placed outside of the quotation marks. This type of sentence is a direct question that is unfinished, such as What did she say? The question mark should be placed at the end of the sentence, outside of the quotation marks.

Conclusion

When using a question mark, it is important to remember the type of sentence being used. When forming a direct question, the question mark should be placed outside of the quotation marks. If the sentence is a statement containing a quote that is a question, the question mark should be placed inside the quotation marks. Additionally, when using a tag question, an unfinished quote, or an unfinished direct question, the question mark should be placed inside or outside of the quotation marks, depending on the sentence.