The exclamation mark is a type of punctuation mark deployed on the end of specific sentences. While less common than question marks and full stops, exclamation marks aren’t difficult to use, but there are some important points to consider before adding them to your writing.
A brief history of exclamation mark usage
The mark was named by 18th century lexicographer Dr Samuel Johnson, but was in use as early as the 14th century. Shakespeare and other writers used it in the 16th century to communicate emotion, and in the 17th and early 18th centuries, it was also known as an admiration point in grammar books.
The punctuation point didn’t appear on typewriters until 1970. Before then, it was created by typing a full stop, hitting backspace and typing an apostrophe above it. Today, the exclamation mark is a common occurrence – but it isn’t appropriate for all types of writing.
When to use an exclamation mark
Writers put add full stops to complete declarative sentences, while question marks end interrogative sentences. However, as its name suggests, an exclamation mark is used at the end of an exclamatory sentence. Exclamatory sentences are defined as sentences that express a strong emotion. Examples include surprise, joy or anger.
Additionally, exclamation points are often found used with sentence fragments or to add impact in a sudden interjection. However, you might also encounter one occasionally at the end of sentences that are phrased as a question.
How to use an exclamation mark
Using an exclamation point in writing isn’t hard; all you need to do is add it to the end of a sentence. However, some writers find it more complicated when a sentence also closes with quotation marks. Fortunately, there are grammatical rules you can follow that help.
If the exclamation mark is related to the words inside the quotation marks, you should also enclose the punctuation mark. However, in instances where an exclamation mark applies to the entire sentence, then it should be placed outside of the quotation marks to end the sentence.
A similar rule applies for exclamation points when a sentence includes parentheses. If the exclamation point only applies to the words contained in parentheses, include the exclamation mark within the parentheses; but, if it applies to full sentence, place the exclamation mark after and outside the parentheses. However, this last use of exclamation marks is quite rare.
Things to consider when using an exclamation mark
Perhaps the trickiest question to answer when considering employing an exclamation mark is knowing when it is or isn’t suitable to use one at all. With the written word, it can be tough to indicate the intent and emotion driving a simple statement. While words spoken out loud immediately convey the strength of a sentence thanks to body language, facial expression and tone of voice, written words need further clarification to aid the reader’s understanding. An exclamation mark can be a simple solution to get your point across whether you wish to express surprise, dismay, anger and other strong emotions.
However, overuse of exclamation marks can sometimes lessen their impact. F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of “The Great Gatsby”, famously commented:
“Cut out all these exclamation points. An exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke.”
The idea being that readers become blind to them and, in worse cases, irritated by them.
When not to use an exclamation mark
It is advised to avoid the use of exclamation marks in certain types of writing. They are largely considered informal and aren’t suited to a formal context for business emails, essays and annual reports. They are rarely employed in academic writing and are practically non-existent in journalistic writing of a high standard.
While the odd exclamation mark can be acceptable in a casual email to a close colleague, overuse or use in more professional communications is often considered unbusinesslike.
However, there are alternatives to using exclamation marks that help writers convey emotion or make statements sound more forceful. The use of more descriptive language, stronger verbs and adjusting your style and tone can help you achieve the same result.
Finally, before using an exclamation mark, remember that context is critical. For casual communications or creative writing, the exclamation mark can be an asset when used sparingly. However, when penning professional pieces and communications, it’s better to use the other options suggested above.
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