punctuation - When do I use a question mark with "Could you [please] ..."


A sentence like



Could you please pass me the pepper shaker



is not really a question. Should I use a question mark or a period to end this sentence? What about:



Could you let me know when the meeting begins
Could you tell me when the meeting begins
Could you let me know if you are attending the meeting
...



Any guidance? Is there a general rule?



Answer



Actually, sentences that begin with 'could', 'should', or 'would' are questions and should have a trailing question mark. Your original quote, "Could you please pass me the pepper shaker?", could be answered with a "yes" or "no." Although we usually use this syntax as a command it is not the same as the command "Pass me the pepper shaker," or "Please pass me the pepper shaker."


Etiquette tells us that it is more polite to ask for a response than it is to command a response.


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