16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardQuestion mark inside a quoted question

Standard English Conventions practice question

The sign at the exit asked a single question: "Have you ____

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. paid?"Correct
  2. B. paid."
  3. C. paid?".
  4. D. paid"?

Answer: A. paid?"

The question mark belongs to the quoted question and goes inside the closing quotation mark.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. paid."
The quotation is a question.
C. paid?".
No full stop is added after the closing quotation mark.
D. paid"?
The question mark belongs inside, because the quotation is the question.

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