"Can you provide documentation stating the noise levels, so that we are able to show compliance if we get audited?" Even though this is a question, I feel like the question mark at the end doesn't seem right. I would've put a full stop at the end but knowing it is a question I have put the question mark there. It could be written as a question and a sentence, "Can you provide documentation? So, that we are able to show compliance." Just wondering how to correctly write as one sentence/question.
Asked
Active
Viewed 113 times
-1
-
It would help to know the context. Is this a request in a rental agreement, a letter to some standards technician, a verbal request between two friends, or what? Among other things, it's not clear why you say "Can you provide" vs "Please provide". – Hot Licks Nov 20 '18 at 02:05
-
It was in an email to send to the original equipment manufacturer for a truck that will be going onto site, where there are minimum standards and documentation that is required. "Please provide" could also have been used, no reason for using "can you". I was just asking on this forum out of curiosity. – Andre Nov 20 '18 at 02:33
-
1"Please provide" is a polite instruction (no question mark), whereas "Can you provide" is ambiguous: it might be an instruction (no politeness; no question mark) or a blunt request (not as polite as could you but still ok; use question mark), or a genuine question about capacity to complete the task (factual; question mark). – Chappo Hasn't Forgotten Nov 20 '18 at 02:50
-
1The comma might be extraneous, but the question mark is fine where it is. – Lawrence Nov 20 '18 at 10:24
-
*Can you provide documentation stating the noise level for us to produce/show the compliance in case of an audit?* – mahmud k pukayoor Aug 17 '19 at 17:24
-
You could say "Please provide ..." rather than "Can you provide ..." – Hot Licks Apr 13 '20 at 17:09
-
Does this answer your question? Do you use a question mark when a sentence starts as a question but then turns into a statement? ... Does this? Punctuating a sentence which is a question followed by statement However, here, the 'so that ...' clause may be considered to modify the question, requiring a terminal question mark. – Edwin Ashworth Apr 13 '20 at 18:28
-
Does this answer your question? Do you use a question mark when a sentence starts as a question but then turns into a statement? – KillingTime Apr 13 '20 at 18:46
-
I’m voting to close this question because it does not benefit the site, is POB, and appears to be the only time we have seen the OP on EL&U...they just never came back. This question is bloat. – Cascabel_StandWithUkraine_ Apr 08 '21 at 20:17
1 Answers
-1
"Can you provide documentation stating the noise levels, so that we are able to show compliance if we get audited?"
I would reverse the order, putting the question last.
In order to demonstrate compliance in case of an audit, can you provide noise level documentation?
edacafe
- 11
-
The reordering needs 'So that we can ...' or 'To enable us to ...'. – Edwin Ashworth Apr 13 '20 at 18:30