Question Mark Within a Dashed Parenthetical Expression
The Question Mark
Rulebase Summary
When a sentence contains a parenthetical expression set off by dashes, and that parenthetical expression is a question, place the question mark inside the closing dash (before it). The main sentence continues after the dash and ends with its own appropriate punctuation.
Morson's Rule 17 · p.12
Examples
✗
A. The defendant — was he even present — left no statement.
✓
A. The defendant — was he even present? — left no statement.
Dashed parenthetical is a question — ? before closing dash.
✗
A. The manager -- did he even read the report -- refused to sign.
✓
A. The manager -- did he even read the report? -- refused to sign.
Question inside dashes gets a question mark before closing dash.
Style Guide References (1)
Morson's
Rule 17
Page 12