7th September 2005, 6:29 AM
You need to add a question mark in that particular phrase because while you begin with an inderect question you embedded a direct one within it. You're also using snap-grammar.
I wonder who the first person/idiot to either try and answer these questions on the post or say yes to one of them is going to be.
"I wonder who will reply to that post." Does not need a question mark
However, you are speaking directly to DJ and asking him directly "I wonder who the first idiot is going to post (to your thread)." Now, as far as I know, a question mark is only available in grammar when you pose a direct question. An indirect question, like "I wonder how many hairs I have on my leg." is a hypothetical and has no real answer, it's a statement declaring the person's mind-set of an individual. You declared your mind set rhetoricaly in the form of a question directly at someone else.
I do it all the time though, I have my own internet way of talking and mixing grammar styles, playing with punctuation, I love throwing out old fashioned interrobangs even when I know they're horrible grammar.
I wonder who the first person/idiot to either try and answer these questions on the post or say yes to one of them is going to be.
"I wonder who will reply to that post." Does not need a question mark
However, you are speaking directly to DJ and asking him directly "I wonder who the first idiot is going to post (to your thread)." Now, as far as I know, a question mark is only available in grammar when you pose a direct question. An indirect question, like "I wonder how many hairs I have on my leg." is a hypothetical and has no real answer, it's a statement declaring the person's mind-set of an individual. You declared your mind set rhetoricaly in the form of a question directly at someone else.
I do it all the time though, I have my own internet way of talking and mixing grammar styles, playing with punctuation, I love throwing out old fashioned interrobangs even when I know they're horrible grammar.