A question mark?
Am I the only one who considers the phrase "There is a question mark over whether Gordon Brown ... " to be utterly idiotic?

A question mark is what it says it is - a mark for hell's sake. It's a little piece of punctuation that tells you a question is being asked.

Is there a giant punctuation mark floating over GB's head? There should be perhaps but I'm sure someone would have noticed if there was. He'd be banging his head on the thing the whole damn time.

Do we say that there is a exclamation mark over the Tory policy on taxation? No we do not. Why? Because it would be moronic to do so.

But even the BBC will say this - there's a question mark over this, or that. Surely there is a question, or even a query over whether something will happen. There's no question mark, is there? So please - just stop it.
( Ugi , it's a game of give and cake, Thu 8 Apr 2010, 17:21, 3 replies)

It's a metphor
for doubt.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Thu 8 Apr 2010, 17:25, closed)

It's a shit metaphor.
Just say "There is doubt as to whether Gordon Brown..." or "It is doubtful whether Gordon Brown..." or "It is questionable whether..."
( Bob Todd whee, Thu 8 Apr 2010, 18:27, closed)

A do not ask my newsreaders to provide literary interest
If they tell me that Brown shat all over Cameron at PMQs I expect this literally to have been the case.

And if they must be all metaphorical about it then could they not come up with a new one occasionally? It's either wrong, or it's over-used. Most likely both.
( Ugi , it's a game of give and cake, Fri 9 Apr 2010, 10:45, closed)