OK, here’s a puzzler. Well, it puzzles me but no doubt lot’s of you will know the answer…

“She’s not going to go away, is she.”

Should this have a question mark at the end? It’s actually a statement but it has a question tagged on…

In case anyone is wondering, it’s an extract from The Winter House. (haven’t had a shameless plug for ages so I’ve lost count )

Dee
x

Dee, I'd say not needed, as it is just a tag.

Although, thinking about it, the speaker may want a response.

Ani

Yes... that's exactly the loop I keep going round.

Thanks Ani. Are we the only two on here this morning?

Dee
x

I think so. I keep skating around looking for life, and you're it, babe!

Ani

Awww gee!

x

Hi Dee,
In my 'Practical English Usage' by Michael Swan, the question tags have question marks regardless of whether they are real questions or not. They say the meaning changes with intonation -falling intonation tells us it sin't a real question - like yours but there is still a q m.

My question to you is: is it clear that your question is not a real one from the context? eg if you added 'she said, shaking her head'
Elspeth

Durrr!

Thank you, Elspeth. If I’d had my brain switched on earlier I’d have thought to consult my favourite book on the subject: The Oxford Manual of Style.

It agrees with yours that a question mark is used after a tag.

Thanks for the wake up call

Dee
x

I agree with Elspeth, it should have a question mark. Otherwise, if the intonation was to govern the inclusion or lack of question mark, then every single sentence said by our Australian friends would end in a question mark.



Colin M

Hehehe!

Know what you mean, Colin. I work with an Australian and everything he says is a question?

But…? there again…? you could say the same about us Northumbrians?

Dee