---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't like the way question marks look…"
description: "\"I don't like the way question marks look. They're really ugly. They look like blots. At some other point in my life, I might have disliked them because..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/john-edgar-wideman-7347_ass_i-don-t-like-the-way-question-marks-look_1507848.jpg"
---

#  I don't like the way question marks look. They're really…

![“I don't like the way question marks look. They're really ugly. They look like blots. At some other point in my life, I might have disliked them because I never knew how to properly apply them. Also commas, and whether they were outside the quote or inside the quote - that all seemed like an…” quote by John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/john-edgar-wideman-7347_ass_i-don-t-like-the-way-question-marks-look_1507848.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/john-edgar-wideman-7347_ass_i-don-t-like-the-way-question-marks-look_1507848.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/john-edgar-wideman-7347_ass_i-don-t-like-the-way-question-marks-look_1507848.jpg)

> “I don't like the way question marks look. They're really ugly. They look like blots. At some other point in my life, I might have disliked them because I never knew how to properly apply them. Also commas, and whether they were outside the quote or inside the quote - that all seemed like an unnecessary pain in the ass.”

[John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The author expresses aesthetic dislike for question marks and commas, viewing them as unnecessary visual clutter.

**In simple terms:** Punctuation feels ugly and burdensome.

Key Takeaway

Simplify writing by reducing unnecessary punctuation.

Themes

writing aesthetics language

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

literary reflective

When to use this quote

- editing
- creative writing
- academic papers
- personal journaling

Key Concepts

visual design linguistics

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you prioritize clarity over visual appeal?
- How can punctuation enhance meaning?

A Different Perspective

Punctuation serves essential grammatical functions despite aesthetic concerns.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Apply Commas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apply-commas-5544442/) [Ass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ass/) [Commas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commas/) [Commas Outside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commas-outside-5544441/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mark/) [Marks Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marks-look-1813299/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Question mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-mark/) [Question Marks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-marks-548639/) [Ugly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ugly/) [Unnecessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unnecessary/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

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