love this site; love your comics. just a kind of grammar nazi comment. the line that says 'The code is 'cool' isn't it?' really would be more proper without the question mark, but a period instead, and maybe a comma to emphasize? :) 'The code is 'cool', isn't it.'
People often use 'accept' when they should of used 'except'. I'd like to correct them all, but its not practical so I just grit my teeth and try not to loose my temper.
It depends on the way the sentence is presented. If Scott is asking if the code is "cool", then the question mark is appropriate. If Scott is stating that the code is "cool", then the period is appropriate.
So then the manner in which the sentence is presented is based on Scott's tone - I'd like to imagine he is asking the question dejectedly, realizing that he knows the answer, but still must ask to verify if his boss is, indeed, that stupid.
On the other hand, had a period been used, Scott would have been directly stating that the code is "cool", possibly in a mildly aggravated manner (like a parent towards a child who has misbehaved), preempting the need for confirmation, showing to the audience that he knows his boss is, indeed, that stupid.
Disregarding all the above stated, a comma is necessary between "cool" and "isn't":
The grammatical errors in this comic are acceptable. The grammatical errors in the comments it generated are exceptional.
Hi, Scott! I've been reading your comic for quite some time now and I love it! I'm sorry so many of your comments are related to grammar. You do tend to make a lot of errors but you're also hilarious. You'd think that would buy you some leeway.
I find it ironic that in ptbptb's comment about correcting everyone who uses "accept" when they mean "except" wrote "loose my temper" instead of "lose my temper"...
Grammartron was correct in saying there should have been a comma, but was incorrect in the placement of that comma. Punctuation always goes inside the quotation marks, so it should be "The code is 'cool,' isn't it?"
Has anybody else. considered that Jim & Joey actually meant he/she/they/it wanted Runey to accept the fact that it's wrong, and didn't make a mistake? 'Cause I have.
All these people get angry over grammatical errors. They must spend their lives furiously restraining their hilariously out of control tempers for the good of society (and their not being in jail-ness).
For the sake of the greater good, I invite you to brutally criticize my grammar now.
"....really would be more proper without the question mark, but a period instead"
No. The only thing worse than a "grammar nazi" is a wrong grammar nazi. "Isn't it?" is a question, and it doesn't matter if the sentence starts out as a statement.
love this site; love your comics. just a kind of grammar nazi comment. the line that says 'The code is 'cool' isn't it?' really would be more proper without the question mark, but a period instead, and maybe a comma to emphasize? :) 'The code is 'cool', isn't it.'
Wow. I love how you had the gall to criticize a perceived grammatical error in the comic, while failing to use proper capitalization and sentence structure. He is asking a question (hence the question mark) to verify what he believes is correct, not stating a fact that he knows for sure (which would call for a period). Also,"isn't it" is ALWAYS a question, it's never a statement of fact. The grammar is fine and in the future if you're going to attempt to criticize one's grammar, perhaps you should first make sure that your own grammar is at least beyond the elementary school level.
Actually, punctuation is not "always" inside of the quotation marks. For instance, a question mark or exclamation point will go inside or outside of the quotation depending upon whether the quote was a question or if the entire sentence was a question.
If I said, "You asked if you could have a dog," you would end that with a period, because it is a statement; however, if you said the following: You asked, "Can I have a dog?" The question mark will go inside the quotation because the whole sentence is a statement, but the quote (which ends the sentence) is a question.
Now, here's where we break conventional wisdom: You could write the sentence this way: Did you say, "I love you"?
Since the sentence as a whole is a question, and the quote is a statement, you put the question mark on the outside of the quotation. Question marks and exclamation points take priority; moreover, semicolons always go outside of the quotation.
"You learn something new every day"; I don't know who said that.
All questions, even rhetorical ones (the spoken tone of which more resemble a statement than an interrogative), get a question mark. Scott was right.
As for the protocol for placement of a question mark or period inside quotes vs. outside, the question is not a grammatical one, but a cultural one. Atari may be revealing his or her background by stating the rule as above...the whole story is that the British and Canadian English protocol places the punctuation mark outside of the quotes except for those that are in fact directly related to the content being quoted, and American English always places it inside quotes, with the sole exception of instances when quoted content immediately precedes a colon or semicolon (those go outside the quote marks, as Atari indicated). Consequently,
Did you see the series finale of "Lost?" I thought it was a stellar example of quality writing and artistry.
would be correct in American English, but not Canadian or British English. An appropriate response might be
You're an idiot, aren't you?
The above statement could be construed as rhetorical based on the delivery and the fact that the series finale was not really either of those things.
The subsequent posts this cartoon prompted are so entertaining it makes me wonder if it is not Scott just continuing the joke in the posts and not actual, different people. The fact that posts alone can continue two years or so after the comic is indicative in and of itself of how damn funny this was. cheers.
Every question should get a question mark, right? If your statement includes a quote which is a question, then the question mark should go inside the quotes.
John just said "Do you want to have lunch?"
If your question includes a quoted statement, then the question mark should go outside the quotes.
Did you hear John say "I'm having lunch"?
But what if your question includes a quote which is a question? Do you punctuate the quoted question? Or the question you are asking? The only logical answer is to do both.
Did you hear John say "Do you want to have lunch?"?
Is asking "Does that help?" sound too condescending?
July 24, 2008
Reader Comments (29)
love this site; love your comics. just a kind of grammar nazi comment. the line that says 'The code is 'cool' isn't it?' really would be more proper without the question mark, but a period instead, and maybe a comma to emphasize? :)
'The code is 'cool', isn't it.'
Accept that would be wrong.
I have to think that if he'd done that, someone else would have requested that he put the question mark back in for the same reason.
Language is for communication. Did you understand what he was trying to say? If you did, shut up.
Well said, Fred.
The comic is representing people talking. People who talk often use bad grammar. So it's realistic!
Anyone else find it ironic that "Jim & Joey" used "accept" when they meant "except?" I sure do.
People often use 'accept' when they should of used 'except'. I'd like to correct them all, but its not practical so I just grit my teeth and try not to loose my temper.
When people write "should of" instead of "should have", I get a little tense.
Period vs. question mark:
It depends on the way the sentence is presented. If Scott is asking if the code is "cool", then the question mark is appropriate. If Scott is stating that the code is "cool", then the period is appropriate.
So then the manner in which the sentence is presented is based on Scott's tone - I'd like to imagine he is asking the question dejectedly, realizing that he knows the answer, but still must ask to verify if his boss is, indeed, that stupid.
On the other hand, had a period been used, Scott would have been directly stating that the code is "cool", possibly in a mildly aggravated manner (like a parent towards a child who has misbehaved), preempting the need for confirmation, showing to the audience that he knows his boss is, indeed, that stupid.
Disregarding all the above stated, a comma is necessary between "cool" and "isn't":
"The code is 'cool', isn't it?"
The grammatical errors in this comic are acceptable. The grammatical errors in the comments it generated are exceptional.
Hi, Scott! I've been reading your comic for quite some time now and I love it! I'm sorry so many of your comments are related to grammar. You do tend to make a lot of errors but you're also hilarious. You'd think that would buy you some leeway.
Barbarians...
Hilarious. I'm enjoying these so much...
I find it ironic that in ptbptb's comment about correcting everyone who uses "accept" when they mean "except" wrote "loose my temper" instead of "lose my temper"...
Hilarity!
Grammartron was correct in saying there should have been a comma, but was incorrect in the placement of that comma. Punctuation always goes inside the quotation marks, so it should be "The code is 'cool,' isn't it?"
HeebieJeebie, I'm pretty sure ptbptb was just trolling with his "accept" statement. Trolling is a art.
i see what you did there meep.
Has anybody else. considered that Jim & Joey actually meant he/she/they/it wanted Runey to accept the fact that it's wrong, and didn't make a mistake? 'Cause I have.
All these people get angry over grammatical errors. They must spend their lives furiously restraining their hilariously out of control tempers for the good of society (and their not being in jail-ness).
For the sake of the greater good, I invite you to brutally criticize my grammar now.
I find this exceptionally hilarious to read. And I don't mean the comic. Although that was hilarious, too.
I think it would be a safe assumption that whenever he uses the word "nobody" he means you, regardless of context.
"....really would be more proper without the question mark, but a period instead"
No. The only thing worse than a "grammar nazi" is a wrong grammar nazi. "Isn't it?" is a question, and it doesn't matter if the sentence starts out as a statement.
love this site; love your comics. just a kind of grammar nazi comment. the line that says 'The code is 'cool' isn't it?' really would be more proper without the question mark, but a period instead, and maybe a comma to emphasize? :)
'The code is 'cool', isn't it.'
Wow. I love how you had the gall to criticize a perceived grammatical error in the comic, while failing to use proper capitalization and sentence structure. He is asking a question (hence the question mark) to verify what he believes is correct, not stating a fact that he knows for sure (which would call for a period). Also,"isn't it" is ALWAYS a question, it's never a statement of fact. The grammar is fine and in the future if you're going to attempt to criticize one's grammar, perhaps you should first make sure that your own grammar is at least beyond the elementary school level.
I'm not an english speaker, but i think the question mark is requested in this case because it, in fact, is a question!
he is questioning his boss "the code is "cool", right?"
damn! i'm so good!
@me
Actually, punctuation is not "always" inside of the quotation marks.
For instance, a question mark or exclamation point will go inside or outside of the quotation depending upon whether the quote was a question or if the entire sentence was a question.
If I said, "You asked if you could have a dog," you would end that with a period, because it is a statement; however, if you said the following: You asked, "Can I have a dog?" The question mark will go inside the quotation because the whole sentence is a statement, but the quote (which ends the sentence) is a question.
Now, here's where we break conventional wisdom: You could write the sentence this way: Did you say, "I love you"?
Since the sentence as a whole is a question, and the quote is a statement, you put the question mark on the outside of the quotation. Question marks and exclamation points take priority; moreover, semicolons always go outside of the quotation.
"You learn something new every day"; I don't know who said that.
Oh, I just couldn't resist.
All questions, even rhetorical ones (the spoken tone of which more resemble a statement than an interrogative), get a question mark. Scott was right.
As for the protocol for placement of a question mark or period inside quotes vs. outside, the question is not a grammatical one, but a cultural one. Atari may be revealing his or her background by stating the rule as above...the whole story is that the British and Canadian English protocol places the punctuation mark outside of the quotes except for those that are in fact directly related to the content being quoted, and American English always places it inside quotes, with the sole exception of instances when quoted content immediately precedes a colon or semicolon (those go outside the quote marks, as Atari indicated). Consequently,
Did you see the series finale of "Lost?" I thought it was a stellar example of quality writing and artistry.
would be correct in American English, but not Canadian or British English. An appropriate response might be
You're an idiot, aren't you?
The above statement could be construed as rhetorical based on the delivery and the fact that the series finale was not really either of those things.
The subsequent posts this cartoon prompted are so entertaining it makes me wonder if it is not Scott just continuing the joke in the posts and not actual, different people. The fact that posts alone can continue two years or so after the comic is indicative in and of itself of how damn funny this was.
cheers.
>Did you see the series finale of "Lost?" I thought it was a stellar example of quality writing and artistry.<
So, the show is called "Lost?"? Strange, never spotted that before...
Also, you're an idiot for using the grammatical structure of an Idiot people. Just kidding America. Y'all speak good an' things.
works for me if I read something (I can retain 98% of a book but only 40% wen someone tells me
Every question should get a question mark, right?
If your statement includes a quote which is a question, then the question mark should go inside the quotes.
John just said "Do you want to have lunch?"
If your question includes a quoted statement, then the question mark should go outside the quotes.
Did you hear John say "I'm having lunch"?
But what if your question includes a quote which is a question? Do you punctuate the quoted question? Or the question you are asking? The only logical answer is to do both.
Did you hear John say "Do you want to have lunch?"?
Is asking "Does that help?" sound too condescending?
You're welcome.