punctuation help

[JamesEverton]

I'm never very sure what the correct punctuation should be when I write a sentence in which the first clause asks a question and is then followed by a qualifying clause. I think that I'd only use a sentence like this in an informal letter or email (because it matches spoken English). A question mark seems to terminate the sentence but looks incorrect next to the non-questioning clause.

So, which of the following is most correct?

A) Are you still expecting me at eight because I will be late.

B) Are you still expecting me at eight? because I will be late.

C) Are you still expecting me at eight? Because I will be late.

D) Are you still expecting me at eight (because I will be late)?

[Quizmonkey]

A and B are incorrect (A needs a question mark at the end; and in B you can't really have a lower-case letter after a question mark). C and D are both fine.

[JamesEverton]

Thanks Qm. I wasn't too sure about C because the second sentence doesn't look to be a valid sentence.

Also, I forgot E:

E) Are you still expecting me at eight because I will be late?

[Quizmonster]

In each of your sentences, you appear to be categorically asserting that you will not be there at the appointed time of eight. It seems, therefore, rather pointless to ask whether you are still expected then, when telling your interlocutor you won't might make more sense.
In the circumstances, then, it might be better to invert the sentence-parts and write...
"I'll be late, so please don't expect me at eight."

[brionon]

Go at 7, you'll be early.

[JamesEverton]

I take your point about the inversion Qm but I think that it's the sort of thing that I might say aloud (when there's obviously no issue with punctuation). It's also the sort of thing that I would use in an email where the addressee's response has to be preempted. The second clause provides the reason for me asking the question in the first clause. In this example, the question acts as an acknowledgement that I'm rubbish (because I'm going to be late).

brionon thanks for the advice!

[Narolines]

Personally I don't like C because the second "sentence" is merely a dependent clause, and has no main clause on which to depend - therefore it's not a sentence. D is OK, but I'm not over-keen on the parentheses. E would be my choice if there were a comma inserted after "eight"; as it stands (and this could also apply to D), it could read as though your host has invited you at, say, seven, but is in fact expecting you at eight because he/she knows you will be late. A and B, as QM says, are definitely wrong.

[Quizmonster]

a. Do you know the answer, because I don't?
b. Is he coming to the party, because she isn't?
c. When does the darts match start, because I'm not free until eight?
The above three examples seem to me to involve 'genuine' question situations. I just felt that the situation you were using was a kind of 'non-question' one...or, at best, a 'false-question' one.
The point, however, is that there is no problem about putting a question mark immediately after the statement element of the sentence. Cheers

[rojash]

Regardless of punctuation, IMVHO, I would say each of the examples is an abuse of the word "because", which means "For the reason that".

"Do you know the answer, for the reason that I don't?" doesn't seem to make much sense to me...

[Narolines]

Yes, rojash, I think we're on the same wavelength here - that's precisely the point I was making. It's one of those constructions that we all understand perfectly well in colloquial spoken English, but which presents problems when it comes to writing it down. I agree that ideally one would choose an alternative way of phrasing the whole thing, but given that the question was about puctuating this particular construction, I think it's a case of making the best of a bad job.

[Quizmonster]

The Oxford English Dictionary makes it perfectly clear that 'because' may be used to mean 'inasmuch as', 'in view of the fact that' or 'since' as well as 'for the reason that'.
Accordingly, Rojash, my illustrative question would mean: "Do you know the answer, since I don't?" Clearly, one cannot really indicate pronunciation here on AnswerBank, but in colloquial usage the 'you' and the 'I' would be somewhat emphasised.
There may conceivably be a case for saying such a 'because' structure should be avoided in formal writing, but there is no earthly reason why that should apply when writing informal, everyday 'speech' such as the dialogue in a novel.

[rojash]

Well, QM, my dictionary gives the meaning of "since" as "For the reason that; on account of", which doesn't seem to fit any better. As Narolines says "It's one of those constructions that we all understand perfectly well in colloquial spoken English".

[Quizmonster]

Quite, R. But James made it clear in the question itself that we are here discussing language in (quote) "an informal letter or e-mail"...and "spoken English". I am, therefore, at a loss to see what it is that you are disagreeing with!
The point surely is that "colloquial spoken English" has to appear in written form, when anyone is writing informally or when an author is writing the speech of ordinary people.
If people say - and they do!..."Do you know the answer, because I don't"...then that is what the author is perfectly at liberty to write.

PS Does your dictionary not offer the "in view of the fact that" possibility? In other words, my earlier opening question effectively means "Do you know the answer and I'm asking that only in view of the fact that I do not?"

And there I shall leave it. Life really is too short to take this any further.

[AnnieC64]

Sorry to start this one up again, but I didn't think you should start a sentence with because!