Prab: CSV import

2024-04-22T07:44:20Z

CSV import

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[[File:Btv1b6000718s.png|Btv1b6000718s|thumb]] [[File:Punctus_interrogativus_from_Bern,_Bürgerbibliothek_Cod._162,_f._15r.jpg|Punctus interrogativus from Bern, Bürgerbibliothek Cod. 162, f. 15r|thumb|left]] [[Image:Question_opening-closing.svg|Question opening-closing|thumb|left]] [[Image:Harcakan.svg|Harcakan|thumb]] [[File:Arabic_Question_mark_(RTL).svg|Arabic Question mark (RTL)|thumb]] '''Question mark''' ('''?''') is a [[punctuation]] mark that indicates an [[interrogative sentence]] or phrase in many [[language]]s. The question mark is not used for [[indirect question]]s. The symbol is also often referred to as an interrogation point, query, or eroteme.

==History==
The origin of the question mark is believed to be from the [[Latin]] word ''quaestio'', meaning "question", which was abbreviated during the [[Middle Ages]] in [[manuscript]]s to "qo". The symbol itself was eventually formed from a stylized lowercase ''q'' over which a small ''o'' was placed. Over time, this notation evolved into the modern question mark we recognize today.

==Usage==
In [[English language|English]] and many other languages, the question mark is used at the end of a sentence to denote a direct question. It may also be used within a sentence to indicate a question, particularly in informal writing. The placement of a question mark is influenced by various [[grammar]] rules and stylistic guidelines. For example, in English, the question mark is placed inside [[quotation marks]] if it is part of the quoted material, and outside if it is not.

==Typographic Variations==
Different [[typography|typographic]] styles and languages may use variations of the question mark. For instance, in [[Spanish language|Spanish]], an inverted question mark (''¿'') is used at the beginning of a question, in addition to the standard question mark at the end. This helps to convey that a sentence is a question from the very start. Other languages, such as [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[Greek language|Greek]], have their own unique question marks.

==In Computing==
In [[computer science]] and [[digital communication]], the question mark has various functions. It is often used in [[programming language]]s to denote conditional statements or expressions. In [[URL]]s, a question mark is used to separate the path and the query string. It also appears in [[wildcard character|wildcards]] and regular expressions to represent zero or one occurrences of the preceding element.

==Cultural Significance==
The question mark is not just a punctuation mark; it has cultural and philosophical significance as well. It represents inquiry, doubt, and the pursuit of knowledge. In literature and art, the question mark can symbolize the unknown, mystery, or a challenge to conventional beliefs.

[[Category:Punctuation]]
[[Category:Typography]]
[[Category:Linguistics]]

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Question mark - Revision history

Prab: CSV import