: In first person narrative, is it acceptable to end rhetorical questions with a period? In first person narrative, would it be acceptable to use a period in place of a question mark when the

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The period should be used when stating a statement. Questions are used if you normally aren't sure. For example:

Did the car break down? You don't know it the car did break down, therefore using a question mark would make sense.

The car broke down. You know that the car broke down. It is a statement and you wouldn't need to ask anyone if it did.

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A question is a question. The reader may not understand if you don't put the question mark at the end. If you're reading outloud, a sentence with a question mark at the end would curve up, but if it's a period, you would only take a pause.

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A rhetorical question is still a question, isn't it? I would use a question mark for a question and a period for a statement.

"Why does this always happen to me?"

"Rats, this always happens when I'm broke and between jobs."

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