؟ ?

I would like to introduce you to my favorite punctuation mark: The irony mark - ؟

According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irony_mark), the irony mark “is a punctuation mark that purports to indicate that a sentence should be understood at a second level [like irony or sarcasm]. It is illustrated by a small, elevated, backward-facing question mark. Its usage is extremely rare...” for now. I intend to eventually change that. It’s such a great member of the punctuation family! Used prudently, it could be very effective in writing, making it obvious when sarcasm is being used. Now sure, sometimes you want acerbity to be subtle, but there are times that it would be nice to not have to spell out that you aren’t being serious.

I know I’d love to have such punctuation available for my own writing. I’m not the most dignified person you’ll meet and my prose reflects that. Even if it isn’t truly necessary, you can’t tell me this little mark isn’t fun. The irony mark is a backwards question mark! It’s odd, quirky, and playful ^_^ Go ahead and draw it. As if question marks weren’t already one of the most interesting marks of punctuation, you can now draw it backwards which adds a whole ’nother level of merriment to the English language. I think it has become my new best friend؟ Since its exact usage is not set in stone, I think you could use it whenever you please instead of just when asking a rhetorical question, etc. Also, some artistic license is open for the taking. It could be used for humor. No longer is there a need to say, “here’s a joke: How many drummers does it take to change a light bulb?” Now, you can go ahead and just say “How many drummers does it take to change a light bulb؟” … Alright, so it isn’t that useful in these situations, but I’m sure there are many opportunities for the irony mark shine. Just give it a chance and I’m sure you’ll find an amusing moment where it is perfectly appropriate.