Question

What is an example of a rhetorical question?

Answer 1

Answer:

Definition of a Rhetorical Question

Have you heard anyone say to you, 'Nice weather, isn't it?' You may agree, but the implication is that you're supposed to agree, because they have already told you the answer - that the weather is nice. This is a basic example of a rhetorical question. A rhetorical question is a device used to persuade or subtly influence the audience. It's a question asked not for the answer, but for the effect.

Oftentimes, a rhetorical question is used to emphasize a point or just to get the audience thinking. Sometimes, a rhetorical question is asked with the asker already knowing the answer, such as the weather example. Other times, the question asked is unanswerable, such as 'Will corruption ever cease?' However, according to the asker, it should be obvious that corruption will never cease.

Here's a fun fact: A famous printer from the 16th century, Henry Denham, invented the rhetorical question mark, which was a question mark facing the opposite direction. However, it never became a permanent punctuation mark in the English language.

Answer 2

You didn't think I would say yes to that, did you?