When you write a rhetorical question, do you follow it with a question mark or a period?

When writing a rhetorical question, the punctuation can vary depending on the context and the intended effect. Here are some guidelines:

Question Mark

• Many sources recommend using a question mark at the end of a rhetorical question, especially if it is meant to be read with a rising intonation, which is typical for questions235.

Period (Full Stop)

• If the rhetorical question is used more as a statement or a request in disguise, a period can be used. This is particularly true for formal requests or when the tone is more declarative than interrogative25.

Exclamation Mark

• In some cases, an exclamation mark can be used if the rhetorical question is meant to convey strong emotions or emphasis135.

Historical Context

• It's worth noting that there was once a proposal for a special punctuation mark, known as the "percontation mark" (⸮), specifically for rhetorical questions, but it never became standard23.

In summary, while a question mark is commonly used for rhetorical questions, the choice between a question mark, period, or exclamation mark depends on the context and the desired intonation of the sentence.