Term
In testimony, things the lawyers say to the witness are not always questions. Sometimes they are statements.
Q I am going to ask you if you saw him.
Q Tell me if you did that.
Q That is true. |
|
Definition
Sometimes things can either be question or statement depending on inflection. If it sounds like the attorney doesn't know and is asking a question, put the ?
Q And Agnes was there?
Q Now, you say you did that?
Q That is true?
|
|
|
Term
Use period for continuations of questions that are not questions but statements
Q How often did Agnes study English?
A I don't really know.
Q Approximately. |
|
Definition
Q Who did Agnes study with?
A I'm not sure.
Q The name of the person.
A Oh, Keith.
Q Keith, you say? |
|
|
Term
Sometimes you will know if it's a question or statement by if they pause for an answer
Q Was it Agnes?
A No, Keith.
Q Keith?
A Yes, Keith. |
|
Definition
Alternative is they didn't stop for an answer and kept on going, so it's not a question.
Q Was it Agnes?
A No, Keith
Q Keith. Why him?
A Who knows. |
|
|
Term
What is the reason why one of these has a period and one does not?
Mr. A. gave it to Mr. B.
Mr. A assaulted Mr. B that day. |
|
Definition
The first example has period because it is referring to a specific person with the inital A, such as Mr. Albino and then Mr. B., such as Mr. Bobsled
In the second example, it is a hypothetical, not referring to any specific person with that initial. Mr A and Mr B are not real people. |
|
|
Term
Though they sounds kind of like statements, the following are really questions.
How dare you do that?
It's true, isn't it? |
|
Definition
Also questions
It's true, isn't it, that you study English?
Did the sister live there, if you recall?
Had you studied, if you remember?
Statements like "If you remember" don't sound like questions, but read the whole thing. The whole thing is a question.
|
|
|
Term
| Use a comma and a question mark for echo questions. Can you think of any? |
|
Definition
Agnes did it, didn't she?
That's true, isn't it?
He was, wasn't he? |
|
|
Term
When it is not a true echo, not repeating exactly the same subject and verb as before, we are taught to use a semicolon or a period.
Agnes studied; isn't that so?
The defendant was there. Right?
You never saw him; isn't that correct? |
|
Definition
The CSR allows any punctuation, including commas, to go with the tag clauses of true, right correct
Agnes studied, isn't that true?
The defendant was there, isn't that correct?
I use commas if it is one word like , right? , correct? and semicolons if it is more than one word
; isnt' that correct?
But in class, I have to follow Sue's mandate and use semicolon and not comma. In real life, I will use comma because it it just as much of an echo to me as the other ones. |
|
|
Term
Do not use commas when there is a series of questions that are all complete sentences.
Is Agnes studying? Is she in room 12? Is Keith there?
|
|
Definition
It is good to use a colon when a lawyer introduces a question like this:
My question is: Who is she?
My questions are: Did she do it? Was she there?
The bottom line is: Why did she? |
|
|
Term
Morson's rule 14 is crap. Working reporters don't put a question mark and then small letters. They would start a new sentence.
Are you willing to study? Because I will help you.
Was he guilty? The jury wanted to know. |
|
Definition
The other alternative is to have all one sentence, but no question mark in the middle like stupid Morson's.
What is the cost is the question.
Am i going crazy, I thought. |
|
|
Term
| The location of quotes with a question mark depends. When is the question mark inside the quotes and when is it outside? |
|
Definition
Question mark is inside if only the quoted material is a question
"How many hours was that?" I asked him
The question mark is outside if the whole sentence is a question.
Who said, "to be or not to be"?
What do you mean, "arbitrary"? |
|
|
Term
Punctuate this:
Q How often do you go
A I don't know
Q Approximately
A What do you mean |
|
Definition
Answer:
Q How often do you go?
A I don't know.
Q Approximately.
A What do you mean? |
|
|
Term
How about this:
Q Tell me what you did there
A If I can remember it was nothing
Q Nothing
A That's right nothing
Q Nothing Okay That's fine When you say nothing what do you mean |
|
Definition
Q Tell me what you did there.
A If I can remember, it was nothing.
Q Nothing?
A That's right. Nothing.
Q Nothing. Okay. That's fine. When you say "nothing," what do you mean? |
|
|
Term
And this --
Q Agnes worked hard didn't she
A I would say yes
Q But you didn't
A How dare you say I don't work hard
Q Tell me if you can when you worked hard
A I work hard every day can you say that
|
|
Definition
Q Agnes worked hard, didn't she? (echo - didn't she work hard?)
A I would say yes.
Q But you didn't? (could be a period based on how he said it, but probably a question since he lets the witness answer the question)
A How dare you say I don't work hard?
Q Tell me, if you can, when you worked hard. (whole thing is a statement, not question. Little "if" phrase is just throw in, so commas.
A I work hard every day. Can you say that?
|
|
|
Term
Q It was hot wasn't it
A Which day
Q June 14 is that correct
A Yes it is
Q How was the day after if you recall
A The day after June 14th it was quite hot |
|
Definition
Q It was hot, wasn't it? (echo again)
A Which day?
Q June 14; is that correct? (any of the three but semicolon or period for Sue)
A Yes, it is.
Q How was the day after, if you recall?
A The day after June 14th? It was quite hot. (this one depends on how witness said it. If he said it as a statment, not a question, and then paused, probably dashes -
The day after June 14th -- it was quite hot.
So many times, it's how they say it.
|
|
|
Term
Okay. Last one. Use quotes.
Q Who said which man was it
A Agnes said which man was it
Q Where was she if you remember
A She was near the stone wall
Q When you say stone wall what do you mean
A Stone wall retaining wall it is by the field
Q What do you mean field
A How dare you ask me that
Q Is that a yes
A Hell no it ain't no yes what you think i said yes for man you are stupid |
|
Definition
Q Who said which man was it
A Agnes said which man was it
Q Where was she, if you remember?
A She was near the stone wall.
Q When you say "stone wall," what do you mean?
A Stone wall, retaining wall. It is by the field. (also could use semicolon before "it")
Q What do you mean, "field"?
A How dare you ask me that?
Q Is that a "yes"?
A Hell no, it ain't no "yes." What you think I said "yes" for? Man, you are stupid.
(this one probably has options. You could probably put a period or semicolon after hell no. Without quotes around the first "yes," it would be confusing. It would say no yes. When they refer to a word that was said, like all of these examples, use quotes. Let me know if you have any questions on any of these) |
|
|
