Rulebase

Recollection Question Stands Alone After Main Question

The Question Mark

Rulebase Summary

When a main question is followed by a question about the witness's recollection or remembrance — such as 'Do you remember?' 'Do you recall?' or 'Do you know?' — put a question mark after the main question and let the recollection question stand alone as its own separate sentence with its own question mark. The recollection inquiry is a distinct question, not a tag or afterthought attached to the first.

BGGP Interrog.6 · p.89

Examples

Q. What time did the meeting start, do you remember?

Q. What time did the meeting start? Do you remember?

The recollection question is a separate thought — give it its own question mark.

Q. Who else was present at the scene, do you recall?

Q. Who else was present at the scene? Do you recall?

Two distinct questions — each gets a question mark.

Transcript Notes

This pattern is very common in depositions. Attorneys ask a substantive question and then tack on a recollection question as a separate thought. Keep them as two sentences, each ending with a question mark.

Style Guide References (1)

BGGP

Interrog.6 Page 89
See also (2)