Question Mark After 'How About' and 'What About' Questions
The Question Mark
Rulebase Summary
Put a question mark after the idiomatic question that begins with 'How about...?' or 'What about...?' These are complete questions on their own and should always end with a question mark. If another question follows, it also receives its own question mark.
BGGP Interrog.8 · p.90 BGGP What.2 · p.423
Examples
✗
Q. How about the weekend of June 12th.
✓
Q. How about the weekend of June 12th?
'How about' starts a complete question — use a question mark.
✗
Q. What about the second invoice, was that also late.
✓
Q. What about the second invoice? Was that also late?
Two separate questions — question mark after each.
Transcript Notes
Attorneys frequently use 'How about' and 'What about' to pivot to new topics or to press for additional information. Each is a standalone question.
Style Guide References (2)
BGGP
Interrog.8
Page 90
BGGP
What.2
Page 423