I have been accused of using too many exclamation points (aka, exclamation marks in the UK)–mostly by Cap’n Bob. But Florence Hazrat’s slim book, An Admirable Point: A Brief History of the Exclamation Mark!, encourages its use and defends its usage.
!Ay caramba! became Bart Simpson’s catchphrase (but was his first exclamation when he saw his parents having sex). (p. 55) That deserved double exclamation points.
But, like Cap’n Bob, others have found “overuse” of exclamation points objectionable. Hazrat notes that H. W. Fowler, author of The King’s English, set modern exclamatory rules limiting the use of exclamation marks (p. 44). Fowler frowned on use of multiple exclamation marks!!!
I was surprised to learn early typewriters like the Remington did not have an exclamation point key. Hazrat speculates this was a result of the first typewriters were marketed to businesses who apparently had no use for an exclamation mark in their business correspondence. But later, as more people outside of commercial enterprises purchased typewriters, the exclamation point was awarded a key (that typically it shared with the Number 1).
Hazrat explores how various writers like Shakespeare, Jane Austin, James Joyce, Elmore Leonard, and Cormac McCarthy used the exclamation point. She points out Elmore Leonard broke his own rules regarding use of the exclamation point. I had forgotten Anton Chekhov wrote a story called “The Exclamation Point” (1885) where a clerk becomes obsessed with exclamation points. (p. 73)
I’m always interested in grammar and punctuation. I’ve reviewed SEMICOLON: THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF A MISUNDERSTOOD MARK By Cecelia Watson (you can read my review here) and BETWEEN YOU AND ME: CONFESSIONS OF A COMMA QUEEN and IT’S GREEK TO ME: ADVENTURES OF THE COMMA QUEEN By Mary Norris (you can read my review here). Florence Hazrat’s excellent An Admirable Point: A Brief History of the Exclamation Mark! joins these wonderful books on the use of punctuation! GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction: The spiked delights of ! — 9
A very pathetical point : ! through ages — 23
The period that blew its top : thinking and feeling ! — 51
‘so !f!’ : literature and the flaming pink scarf — 73
Oi!!! : perking up with punctuation — 108
Radiating punctuation : exclamatory politics and the nuclear bomb — 122
At your fingertips : digital ! — 136
Epilogue: Quo vadis! — 153
Index!! — 168
See also: Eugene O’Neill—a playwright who never used one exclamation point when three would do!
Deb, excellent point! And MAD Magazine had exclamation points on every page!
I, for one, am lobbying for a new punctuation mark that would replace **meh**. For the jaded cynic (me), it would save a lot of time.
Jerry, Florence Hazard discusses other punctuation symbols like the interrobang so a new punctuation mark for **meh** is in the realm of possibility.
You will no doubt be inundated with comments ending in exclamation points.
No!!! Way!!!, Dan!!!!!!!
Jerry, just wait and see!!!
Dan, I’m sure Cap’n Bob’s comment will be riddled with exemption points!!!
George, I’ll admit that they were the very first thing I noticed when I read your blog for the first time, before I even started commenting. I decided that you were way overexcited and needed to calm the F down. I’ve decided that the things need to be doled out. You’d get, say, ten free ones per year. After that there’d be a substantial charge.
Michael, your comment parallels Elmore Leonard’s quota on exclamation points. My wife speculates that my frequent use of exclamation points is a side-effect of my habit of drinking 10 cups of extra-caffeine coffee each morning!
In my writing classes, we were told never to use one. The words in the sentence have to convey the excitement or emphasis. I think a judicial use of them works best.
Patti, you’re probably right about the judicial use of exclamation points. But, sometimes, I can’t restrain myself!
Don’t forget EATS, SHOOTS AND LEAVES: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss.
Whenever I read one of these books I think of Bill Crider.
Jeff, Art Scott and Deb know more about punctuation and grammar than I ever will. Bill Crider was on my Doctoral Committee and corrected many mistakes in my dissertation before I submitted it. I’m eternally grateful for Bill’s help!
I forgot the T-shirt I got recently:
LET’S EAT KIDS.
LET’S EAT, KIDS.
Punctuation Saves Lives.
Jeff, love that T-shirt!
I had an old typewriter that lacked the exclamation point. You had to type a period, then backspace and type an apostrophe. If you had to do that, George, you might use fewer!
Jeff, fortunately, all the typewriters I owned–a Royal, a Royal Electric, and an IBM Electric–all had exclamation points. I try to restrain myself each time I’m tempted to use an exclamation point, but my Will is weak!
I’m afraid my elementary school nuns put the, ahem, fear of God in me regarding the use of the exclamation point. I can’t use one to this day without feeling like I’m hellbound (and I’m an atheist).
Byron, the nuns rapped my knuckles with a ruler…which triggered my early rebellion and motivated me to be a hellhound!
I hate them!!! Patti is right, the words should create the mood, not the punctuation!!! I used to remove most of them from MDM, and dear Linda Toole was one of the worst transgressors!!! I wonder how Linda is these days?!
Didn’t someone say that ending a sentence with an exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke?!!!
Bob, I haven’t heard from Linda Toole in years. I’ll try to cut down on my exclamation points in the future. It’s just that I’m an enthusiastic guy!
I try to use exclamation points sparingly, but sometimes I’ve read such extraordinary stuff that I had to use them!!!
OT:
Is it too late to correct the title “HISOTRY”?
Sounds too much like bigotry to me …
One of my weaknesses is using these …
Wolf, …I know what you mean.