There are many tools of the trade that a writer can use to strengthen his or her skills. One good way to do that is to know what questions to ask and how to phrase them. Interrogative questions are certainly important to get the most out of your words and important when conducting interviews. Interrogative refers to questions that ask “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” and “why.” Here are a few things from paper writing service Tutoriage to keep in mind when using this method as a writer.
The Structure of Interrogative Queries
An interrogative question has a very definitive style that must be adhered to. It asks a question while inverting the subject and the predicate of the corresponding statement. In other words, it puts the verb before the subject. These types of questions are used to provoke a pointed response. Also, the response should not be boiled down to “yes” or “no.” If it is, the question should be rewritten to get a better, more thorough response. A good example of a “yes/no” question is, “Does he have your attention now?”
The Question’s Context
The key thing that a writer must know is the context of a question. If they’re writing a news article, then there may not be a place for interrogative style. They will; however, use these interrogative questions in an interview in order to gain information to write the article. A prose writer, on the other hand, could certainly use this style to give their characters dialogue. Asking where people are going and what they’ve done are just two of the better-known methods a writer can use to move their story along. Perhaps even a personal query, such as, “is your hair combed?” would be in order.
The Difference Between Positive and Negative Questions
Tying into a question’s context, there are certain ways to write a positive question and a negative one. If you’re asking a person if they have had a good day, that’s a positive question. Another example of a positive question would be “Did you brush your hair today?” A negative question is one that has a negative connotation, such as “Didn’t you brush your hair today?” A good writer will make sure not to confuse the two, as the expected answer will certainly be implied in the question.
The Challenge of Indirect Questions
Most interrogative questions are very direct, but there are certain methods that can get results less directly. The indirect method reports a question, but it finishes with a period instead of a question mark. A good example of this is using the word ‘ask’ in a sentence. ‘It was asked if he felt fine,’ for example. It’s certainly a method that can be overused if a writer is lazy. Switching between direct and indirect questions is better for a well-written piece.
Rhetorical Questions
There are other question formats that a writer can use. One of the more popular ones is rhetorical. Here, the writer can ask a question while making a point at the same time, while using implication instead of the direct manner of interrogation. A good example of this is H.L. Mencken’s famous quote about marriage. “Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who would want to live in an institution?” Here, Mencken lets the reader know his true feelings about marriage without explicitly stating them. A good writer can utilize this trick very well.
Keeping interrogative questions straight is a challenge for any writer. Knowing to invert the subject and predicate is an invaluable skill for writers of any age. There’s also the importance of crafting the right questions so that you get the desired response. Positive questions should get positive answers, negative questions are often encouraging yes or no answers. Not overusing either direct or indirect questions is also an important skill that shouldn’t be forgotten.