1. Paki-Writing

    Paki-Writing New Member

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    a question in a statement

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by Paki-Writing, Apr 6, 2010.

    I was wondering if I could do this:
    The real question is: why do you hate her?​


    If I can't do that, how can I put a question in a statement?
     
  2. m5roberts

    m5roberts Member

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    You could say something like: He wanted to know why she hated her.
     
  3. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    The real question is, why do you hate her?
     
    1 person likes this.
  4. CharlieVer

    CharlieVer Contributor Contributor

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    Never mind, sorry.
     
  5. squeakystrings

    squeakystrings New Member

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    The way you have it written could be grammatically correct, but the colon in this situation gives it a cheesy-dramatic-pause-Law-and-Order-dialogue kind of effect. If you'd like to have the reader take you seriously on this piece of dialogue, the comma in Cogito's post would be the way to go. At least I would prefer that if I were reading it, and I'm a fan of colons & semicolons.
     

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