Period After an Indirect Question
The Period
Rulebase Summary
Use a period to end an indirect question — a sentence that reports, describes, or refers to a question without directly asking it. Indirect questions are declarative in structure even though they involve question content. Typical signals include phrases like 'asked whether,' 'wanted to know,' or 'going to ask you if.'
Morson's Rule 5 · p.4 BGGP Period.22 · p.82
Examples
✗
A. She asked me whether I had spoken with opposing counsel?
✓
A. She asked me whether I had spoken with opposing counsel.
Indirect question reports a question — not asks one.
✗
A. I wanted to know if the document had been filed?
✓
A. I wanted to know if the document had been filed.
Embedded question inside a statement takes a period.
Style Guide References (2)
Morson's
Rule 5
Page 4
BGGP
Period.22
Page 82