This is a bit of a strange question and I apologise in advance ...

Let's say I have a sentence that expresses both inquiry and shock, and I want to show that by using both an exclamation mark and a question mark. I know that both ?! and !? are considered acceptable and are in common usage, but is one "more correct" than the other? Or are there simply no rules on this at all (because it's informal writing)?

Is it more of a question or more of a shock -- I would choose that way. Of course, I don't double punctuation so that reduces the number of decisions I have to make in my life.

wolfkin said:

This is a bit of a strange question and I apologise in advance ...

Let's say I have a sentence that expresses both inquiry and shock, and I want to show that by using both an exclamation mark and a question mark. I know that both ?! and !? are considered acceptable and are in common usage, but is one "more correct" than the other? Or are there simply no rules on this at all (because it's informal writing)?

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Your last guess is the right one.

I know that both ?! and !? are considered acceptable and are in common usage,

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Oh?

You won't see it in U.S. newspapers.

I have personally seen ?! used much more often than !?, but not universally. And I would argue that it is used in formal writing, namely in play scripts and in dialogue in novels. Some examples I can find:

"Some things are... what?! Private? Sacred? Husband telling wifey about a very peculiar therapy session? A pig?!" (Edward Albee, The Goat)

Max. (flying into the bedroom) What happened!?
Tito. Impossible!
Max. What?!
Tito. No!!
Max. WHAT HAPPENED?!! (Ken Ludwig, Lend Me a Tenor)

Punctuation guru Lynne Truss (Eats, Shoots & Leaves) gives only one example - "Where did you get that hat?!"

For what it's worth, Wikipedia says, "The question mark frequently comes first (to emphasize that it is a question), although there is no universal style rule on the subject."

If you don't want to use double (or triple!) punctuation marks, italics paired with question marks can convey the same meaning:

"Somebody did that to you?" whispered Ford. (Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)

sdgraham said:

Oh?

You won't see it in U.S. newspapers.

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One wouldn't find it in Canadian newspapers, either, but they can be found quite commonly in magazines (especially with direct quotes), literature and scripts, and blogs.

It really doesn't matter which way you put them round - personal preference.

But bear in mind that it is colloquial only. You would not use it in business letters or newspapers etc.

I know that both ?! and !? are considered acceptable and are in common usage,

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You won't see it in UK newspapers, either.

Rover