I’ll admit it!!!! I love a good exclamation point!!!!
Oh, stop. Quit gasping in horror and disgust. You are so dramatic!!!!
Cute exclamation point!!!!(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I know, I know . . . exclamation points are overused and the words in the sentence should convey the excitement, humor, or other emotion, and not rely on the punctuation mark to do the job. Throwing in an exclamation point, or in newspaper terms, “screamers,” verges on melodrama. John R Trimble, who wrote Writing with Style, likens the exclamation point to an “applause sign,” I would add exclamation points are writing’s version of a sitcom laugh-track. They cheapen the writing.
As such, my WIP is devoid of the ubiquitous one-winking-eye devil. However, I liberally sprinkle exclamation points in my blog comments. I can’t help it.
Here are two great clips from Seinfeld showing Elaine’s love of the exclamation point.
How about you? Are you an exclamation point lover or hater?
Related articles
- Too many exclamation points!!! (salon.com)
- Settle down! 6 guidelines for using the exclamation point (prdaily.com)
- Let’s Go Ahead and Declare It the Year of the Exclamation Point! (theatlanticwire.com)
- The Point of Exclamation (opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com)
- The history of the exclamation point… (blogs.smithsonianmag.com)
Robin Coyle 
I can’t stand exclamation points when they’re used to express something negative or angry. But I love a positive exclamation point!
Interesting. You are a discriminating exclamation point user. I love your positive thinking. Boo on negative exclamation points.
OK, I’ll make an exception for one, but only if it’s used with a tongue in the cheek intent.
No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How do you feel about “LOL?”
I personally say “haha!”. With the question mark, of course.
I love them, because I feel like such a naughty little girl when I use them !!!!! Much like the smily face =D
You renegade! =D
The one thing better than a multiple exclamation points is a multiple exclamation points comingled with multiple question marks, like this:
“What did she say!!!!!?????”
What!?!?! I love to mix my punctuation!!!!! I love mixed metaphors too. And mixed drinks!
Mixed drinks are the best…………
Cheers!
I read somewhere that Americans were the worst exclamation mark abusers in the world, can you believe that?
Now I’m off to search through my old CD’s, because I suddenly have the urge to watch Seinfeld…
Seinfeld was the best, Maggie. The best.
Remember that Seinfeld line . . . ?
I can’t help it – I totally overuse exclamation marks. Sorry, I refuse to do it here. 😉
I once knew a guy (god, this sounds like the start of a bad joke, doesn’t it?) who really disliked my ‘overuse’ of them… I like to think that they helped to convey my vivacious, fun loving, excitable character… His loss…
As you can see… I also have a penchant for ellipsis… 😉
I too, am drawn to using tons of !!!!!!!!!s. I don’t in my writing, but I love a good !!!!!!!! in blog comments, texts, and email. Nice restraint on not using !!!!!!! in your comment.!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Given that I did a post on NOT using the !!!!!!!!!!!, I can use them all I want here!!!!!!!!)
I dislike use of the exclamation point because, if used, it seems to be OVERused. Having said that, I do use it in my blogging comments – it’s more difficult to convey enthusiasm and excitement in fewer words, I find, but that could also be lack of skill. I often include it because I don’t want my comment to be construed as sarcastic – I use the 🙂 a lot too for that reason, despite the fact that I gag a bit at continually happy-faced people, liberally peppering their dialogue til you wanna smack ’em … 🙂
I’m the same way with comments and texts. I am terrible at texting so my messages are always short. I throw in exclamation points to they don’t sound so terse. I’ll use a 🙂 here and there, but I am not a fan of 🙂 overkill.
I’m soooo guilty of this!!
Ha ha
It is because of all your enthusiasm!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know right!!
OK. The one big downside of being the editor of an alumni magazine is having to review Class Notes. Those alums shout every damn thing you can imagine.
Jill is getting married!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Becky is preggers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bill just got a birthday card from Bob!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats on your colonoscopy, Eddie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wish these folks use their Indoor Voice.
Oh gosh. You made me laugh out loud. Too funny . . . “colonoscopy,” “indoor voices.” Cracked me up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stop that.
The last time I went overboard with a ! was when I was in grade school. My English teachers pretty much helped me see that a ! isn’t necessary if the dialogue is expressive enough. That isn’t to say I never use a !, but I use them sparingly.
Good for you. I wonder if the tendency to use exclamations points is because we do so much communication digitally now. We want people to “hear” our excitement.
Now, that’s true–and I actually do tend to use ! when I’m blogging or emailing.
Just like I over-indulge with the 🙂
I bet 90% of the texts I write include one or more exclamation points. I am lousy at texting so I keep them short. I throw in a !!! to make my words sound less terse.
As much as i love this series I face a serious issue…my white board is nearly full, I went back rewrote them to squeeze more on but now only have space for three more so I need to know should i but another white board?
That is funny. I do have a few more Strong vs Weak Word posts in me. Brace yourself . . . and maybe start shopping for another white board.
I bought one today in preparation
Good girl!
Exclamation marks I always try to cut, for blog posts or project writing. Occasionally they get used if I am being lazy, but I find it a good exercise to get my point across without using them.
It is tricky at times to find words to convey excitement. It is that “show don’t tell” mantra.
One of the best episodes, and you use it well to get your point across! 🙂
Thank you . . . Seinfeld was a great show. I’m sure I’ve seen every episode at least twice.
Tell me about it. They never get old.
I think I use the exclamation a lot…but do love it!!!
It is funny, but I never use an exclamation point in my writing, but litter them all over emails, texts, and blog comments.
I used to do it! It’s a rookie writing mistake. I cringe now, when I read back!
I used them too. Sometimes in multiples. Argh. Such enthusiasm is rather off-putting.
Hi honey 🙂
I’ve nominated you for an award, but please don’t feel obligated to accept 😉
Xx
Vikki!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!! Multiple exclamation points intended!!!!!!!!!!!
Ha ha ha 😉
You are most welcome!!!!!!!!!
Xx
G’day Robin!!!!!!!!
I’m undecided in the use of exclamations. it depends on the situation I think.
!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡
John!!!!!
How did you do the upside-down exclamation points? It is because you “come from the land down-under?” (OK, that song is now stuck in my head!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Robin,
Would you believe I just turned the keyboard upside down?
John.
Guilty as charged. It has something to do with the casual nature of writing a blog and replying to comments; I’d normally never use them so much. Also, it’s easy to misinterpret the tone of comments; explanation points make things friendly. No, wait, friendly!
Awesome!!!!! See, I am guilty as charged as well. I am a cheerleader by nature so I love an exclamation point!!!!!!!!! In my novel, I shun them . . . and am a curmudgeon. Bah humbug.
In reading mode, they irritate the heck out of me. A few are okay when the words alone can’t convey the emphasis. I’m in full agreement with agents and editors on this point. But if they riddle dialogue, I’m likely to drop the book and not finish it.
I limit them in blog posts, too. But I’m freer with them in comments. 🙂
!!!!! !!!! !!!! (Is that okay?)
I don’t know if exclamation points jumped out at me until I started writing in ernest. Now that I am, they are like red flares. And, I rather like them!!!!!!!!!!!! (Sorry.)
Except for blogging, I avoid exclamation points. My comments are usually short, maybe to some to the point of terse; an exclamation point feels like a pat on the back to whom I am responding.
When I speak, my voice is littered with exclamations points, like a cheerleader. So, it is hard for me to keep them out of my blog comments because I want to force the blogger to “hear” my excitement. Go! Team! Rah! (See what I mean?)
Love them! Use them! And the characters in my books are overly excited people anyway. I didn’t even think about them until Strong vs Weak Words Part 31 showed up, and I’m not in love you today, Robin! !! You couldn’t bring this up earlier?! 😉 147 exclamation points in my first book! 147!! There is an exclamation at the end of a plethora of Susan’s trademark exclamation. 100 of them are in dialogue by very excited people, and 31are in text. … sigh … Love you though for bringing it up so I clean up the 144 !! that are in my WIP!!!
Je regret. (How French of me!) Until I read your comment, I forgot I did a post ages ago on exclamations points. Gawd, I am getting dotty. Here it is:
Good for you for nuking all but three exclamation points. Was it painful for you?
Oh my gosh! You did do a post. And I have it in my RobinCoyle.doc, but not as a major highlight. Ack! I didn’t nuke any – none! I made changes to my first book, but didn’t nix a single exclamation point. 😦 I have to tackle the 144 in my newest book. … Is it possible that the average reader doesn’t view an exclamation point the way a writer would? (grasping at straws here)
That very well could be because we all sprinkle exclamation points around like rice at a wedding.
I am so afraid of over using exclamation points that I leave them out entirely.
How about in emails, texts, and blog comments? Do you leave them out of those too?
Not even in e-mails etc.
You are much more disciplined than me!!! See . . . I couldn’t resist throwing in three exclamation points.
When I took them out it reduced the manuscript by 31 pages! Wowee zowee!!!!!
Ha! You are one enthusiastic guy!
I have I few I left in my manuscript, because the sentence just didn’t read the same without it. But not too many. 🙂
I start each chapter of my WIP with a quote that foreshadows what is to come. Interesting . . . four of the quotes have exclamation points and they are the words of smarty-pants people.
Just goes to show you, the rules aren’t always followed. I’m currently reading “A Discovery of Witches.” It was a huge bestseller. It’s also full of adverbs, and I’ve even found a few POV changes in the same chapter. Tsk tsk.
I stared down the adverb rule and put three adverbs in a row in one sentence in my WIP. I liked the way is sounds, so there! (Couldn’t help that exclamation point.)
Any word on your publication date? September draws near!!!!!!!!!!! (Sorry, couldn’t help but put those in too.)
Sept. 1st or the 15th. Still waiting to find out. But they got my acknowledgments in the book–and you’re there. 🙂
Whoo hoo!
I predict many comments punctuated by exclamation points. And you have no idea how much it’s killing me not to use one right now.
Here. I’ll do it for you. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great comment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!