OT: Punctuation Masterpiece. (for strict grammarians).

[Kibitzer]

In today's Courant, reprinted from the Boston Globe, I spotted this masterpiece of precise punctuation:

"I think with two outs and runners in scoring position, pitchers are thinking, 'Ah, I've just got to get one more guy out,'?" he said. [emphasis added]​

Some copy editor in Boston must be beaming.

 

[CL82]

In today's Courant, reprinted from the Boston Globe, I spotted this masterpiece of precise punctuation:

"I think with two outs and runners in scoring position, pitchers are thinking, 'Ah, I've just got to get one more guy out,'?" he said. [emphasis added]​

Some copy editor in Boston must be beaming.

So Kib, shouldn't the question mark be inside both quotes? Asking you for a clarification is easier than breaking out my Elements of Style.

 

[Sargassoc]

Pick one: either the comma or the question mark. In this case, I don't think it's a question at all, so then the comma is correct. In American English, the comma goes inside the quotation marks, in British English, it goes outside. There doesn't seem to be a need for any question mark at all, but never along with any other punctuation mark at all (except for ellipses, which-- while appearing to be a series of periods-- is not).

"I think with two outs and runners in scoring position, pitchers are thinking, 'Ah, I've just got to get one more guy out,' " he said.

I might the writer might have helped him/herself by putting the dialogue tag first, in any event: [NAME] said, "I think with two outs and runners in scoring position, pitchers are thinking, 'Ah, I've just got to get one more guy out."

 

[Kibitzer]

The writer was Julian Benbow. His column was largely based on an interview with Chili Davis, hitting coach for the Boston Red Sox. Thus:

We must assume that the question mark resulted from the tone of Davis's voice when being quoted - a querulous rising inflection at the end. The question mark was apparently not part of Chili's speculation about what goes on in a pitcher's mind.

So, CL82, to answer your question: No.

Thank you, Sargassoc, for your keen explanation, abetted by a more logical way of presenting Chili's statement. Except for one teentsy-weentsy little thing. At the very end of your example, you had only one set of double quotation marks ("). You needed a singlet (') to close the quote about a pitcher's thoughts. So, my esteemed English teacher, you were one ' short of an "A."

 

[Sargassoc]

Thank you, Sargassoc, for your keen explanation, abetted by a more logical way of presenting Chili's statement. Except for one teentsy-weentsy little thing. At the very end of your example, you had only one set of double quotation marks ("). You needed another singlet ('). So, my esteemed English teacher, you were one ' short of an "A."

Absolutely right-- actually an oversight, but the effect (error) is the same, is it not?

I also see an earlier typo of mine: "I [think] the writer might have . . . "

 

[bags27]

http://www.sciencealert.com/people-...mmar-mistakes-are-kinda-jerks-scientists-find

 

[Sargassoc]

http://www.sciencealert.com/people-...mmar-mistakes-are-kinda-jerks-scientists-find

In other news, grammarians think scientists are jerks.

(But to give more more ammunition to the original "study," I delight in pointing out the author spelled "extrovert" incorrectly.)

 

[MilfordHusky]

It's out of context and a little hard to understand.

I would add a comma between "think" and "with," to surround the entire prepositional phrase with commas. I'd also move "just" to immediately preceding "one," the word it modifies.

 

[BroadwayVa]

In other news, grammarians think scientists are jerks.

(But to give more more ammunition to the original "study," I delight in pointing out the author spelled "extrovert" incorrectly.)

Seek and ye shall find. If one cruises the internet all kinds of errors in spelling, punctuation and other damnation may be found. I would think that the equipment you are using and the channels/switching packets/ routers/amplifiers you are using came from a few of those much older jerks to which you refer. Communications is to communicate--precision in speech and the written word, if you read newsprint,magazines, or PR published documents --is pretty much a thing of the past or passing.
I lament it but I don't do it very long. My wife, an English professor, keeps me supplied with English errors in speech or the written word--used mostly by those making many more millions than she now has. So, my English teacher was only partially correct in saying professional, college educated people are known by the proper use of the spoken or written word--and stop saying, uh! I stopped, on that she was correct.

 

[Kibitzer]

It's out of context and a little hard to understand.

I would add a comma between "think" and "with," to surround the entire prepositional phrase with commas. I'd also move "just" to immediately preceding "one," the word it modifies.

Your comments have merit from a grammarian's point of view. However, if author Benbow did not hear a comma-induced pauses when listening to Chili speak, it would be an unfaithful distortion of the Davis utterance to insert one. Similarly, Benbow should not arbitrarily move "just" to a new place.

 

[OldAlum]

Saw this on facebook and it seemed appropriate here.