Question mark or exclaimation mark, or both?

Question

Ok, you know when you ask a question, but it's a really important or shocking question, and you would also like to put an exclaimation mark, which comes first? Does it matter?

Answer 1

Question mark first then the exclamation mark!

Answer 2

A long time ago, someone came up with a funny little punctuation mark called the Interrobang. It was a hybrid: an exclaimation and question mark and was intended to help fuse the two. However, it never made it to the typewriter keypad and was ultimately forgotten because people just didn't know exactly how to use it. Nor where.

Bottom line: learn to write better. Don't over-use punctuation marks. One exclaimation mark is always enough. Never more than one. If it's a question, use a question mark. If you need to emphasize, use berevity. Re-write and always edit, edit, edit.

Answer 3

Under normal circumstances you would not use double marks, it's one or the other. A question is not and exclamation and vice versa. In written English you could put emphasis on the question by typing it in italics or capitals.

The only time double marks are used is in reporting the game of chess.

The Nunn Convention
In his book Secrets of Rook Endings (Gambit, 1992) and other books in the series, John Nunn uses these symbols in a more specific way in the context of endgames where the optimal line of play can be determined with some certainty:

! - the only move which maintains the current evaluation of the position: if the position is theoretically drawn, this is the only move which does not lose; if the position is theoretically won, this is the only move which secures the win. A "!" is used no matter how trivial the move in question; the only exception is if it is the only legal move
!! - A particularly difficult to find ! move
? - a move which negatively affects the evaluation of the position: if the position was drawn before the move, it is now lost; if it was won before the move, it is now drawn or lost
?? - an obviously bad ? move
!? - a move which makes the opponent's task harder or one's own task easier; for example, in a theoretically lost position, a move which forces the opponent to find several ! moves in order to win
?! - a move which makes the opponent's task easier or one's own task harder; for example, in a theoretically won position, a move which requires several subsequent ! moves in order to win
This convention has been used in some later works, such as Karsten Muller and Frank Lamprecht's Fundamental Chess Endings (Gambit, 2001), but it can be safely assumed the convention is not being used unless there is a specific note otherwise.

Answer 4

You are very right in your above question by putting a ‘?’mark at the end. Had it been an explanation mark,! , answers would have been different. However, in yahoo answers, the answers are taking them either way and responding like wise. No pun intended here. All the very best.

Answer 5

Interesting question, one I've never really thought about before. I think I put the question mark first, but to be honest, I'm not sure it matters.

Answer 6

Question mark first - shows you are asking a question - put 2 if its a major question!!

Answer 7

both are ok but i personally prefer putting the question mark first for 2 reasons:

1. it look better :p
2. it emphasizes the question ;)

Answer 8

I wouldn't use more than one mark, if you are asking a question then you use a question mark nothing else.

Answer 9

i always thought the question mark should come first
then the exclamation point to indicate that shock thing lol

Answer 10

No not really the outcome s the same?!! like that or !!? I prefer to use the first one but Im sure there will be some sarci comments or other