Oh, yeah? Punctuate THIS!

Lance_in_Shanghai · Jan 4, 2010

How should I punctuate this (left intentionally sparse):

I have had many years to ponder the question what has life given me more of the good or more of the bad

Yes, I could add 'of' after 'question', but without a rewrite, can this sentence as it stands be punctuated properly?

If you have any references (other than your infallible life experience [insert winking happy face to indicate playful sarcasm] ) please give it.

bclement412 · Jan 4, 2010

You could use a colon between "question" and "what" and change the "the" before "question" to "this".

Matera the Mad · Jan 4, 2010

Simply so, perhaps:

I have had many years to ponder the question. What has life given me; more of the good, or more of the bad?

C.bronco · Jan 4, 2010

Lance_in_Shanghai said:
How should I punctuate this (left intentionally sparse):

I have had many years to ponder the question: what has life given me more of the good or more of the bad?

Yes, I could add 'of' after 'question', but without a rewrite, can this sentence as it stands be punctuated properly?

If you have any references (other than your infallible life experience [insert winking happy face to indicate playful sarcasm] ) please give it.

I teach grammar at the college level.

Silver King · Jan 4, 2010

Lance_in_Shanghai said:
I have had many years to ponder the question what has life given me more of the good or more of the bad

I've had many years to ponder whether life has been good or bad to me.

See how easy that was?

If it were my sentence, I'd say, I've had many years to ponder the obvious about my life. Let me explain...

Ms Hollands · Jan 6, 2010

Lance_in_Shanghai said:
can this sentence as it stands be punctuated properly?

Of course it can! I would write it as:

I have had many years to ponder the question: "What has life given me: more of the good or more of the bad?"

I'd say Metera's is fine if the question has come before the first sentence. Otherwise, you're talking about an object that hasn't been defined: I have had many years to ponder the question.

THE question? What question? If you shift it around, it works:

What has life given me? more of the good or more of the bad? I have had many years to ponder the question.

...although that's two questions should there should really be an 's' on the end of 'question'...

veronie · Jan 6, 2010

I have had many years to ponder the question: What has life given me -- more of the good, or more of the bad?

Monkey · Jan 6, 2010

I have had many years to ponder the question: what has life given me more of? The good or the bad?

Yeah, yeah, it has a sentence fragment. So spank me. [insert Monkey-getting-spanked smiley]

HistorySleuth · Jan 6, 2010

What veronie said was what I was going to say, until I scrolled down and saw that veronie had already said it.

Oh, yeah? Punctuate THIS!

Lance_in_Shanghai

bclement412

Matera the Mad

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

C.bronco

I have plans...

Silver King

Megalops Erectus

Ms Hollands

Cow lover

veronie

practical experience, FTW

Monkey

Is me.

HistorySleuth

Researching History's Mysteries