Chapter 3
The Exclamation Point
The exclamation point, which the British call the exclamation mark, is derived from the Latin word io, which expresses surprise and joy. The two Latin letters of that word, written one above the other, form the modern exclamation point.
The problem with exclamation points isn’t understanding how to use them. It’s understanding when an exclamation point is called for. The renowned American author F. Scott Fitzgerald once said that an exclamation point is “like laughing at your own joke.” On the long-running television sitcom Seinfeld, one of the characters is nearly fired because she inserts exclamation points randomly throughout the text of a novel she is editing. American scientist and author Lewis Thomas said that encountering an exclamation point is like watching “someone else’s small child jumping up and down crazily in the center of the living room shouting to attract attention.” The message is clear: Don’t overuse this punctuation mark.
But don’t discount the exclamation point either. Human beings are emotional creatures, and the need to scream in print with more than word choice seems universal. The exclamation point does exactly what its name implies. It raises the level of emphasis and emotion of the sentence. In e-mails, for example, exclamation points often express excitement or warmth, emphasizing the good wishes and high spirits of the writer.
Using, Not Overusing, Exclamation Points
No one can maintain an intense pitch of emotion for very long before tuning out. If you place too many exclamation points in your writing, the reader will mentally discard them. Then when you truly want to emphasize an idea, you will have nothing at your disposal. Place these punctuation marks carefully and sparingly.
Mild exclamations may be indicated by commas, not exclamation points:
Well, I have looked for the macro file for an hour and not found it.
Oh, Paulina will return those encyclopedias to the shelf when she has a chance.
My goodness, a better alarm clock would certainly be helpful.
He is the best candidate, absolutely.
In the preceding examples, the words separated from the main idea of the sentence (well, oh, my goodness, absolutely) are exclamations, but the writer has chosen not to emphasize them. Each could certainly become a stronger statement with different punctuation:
Well! I have looked for the macro file for an hour and not found it.
Oh! Paulina will return those encyclopedias to the shelf when she has a chance.
My goodness! A better alarm clock would certainly be helpful.
He is the best candidate. Absolutely!
The choice between the comma of a mild exclamation and the intensity of a full-fledged exclamation point is nearly always a question of style, not grammar. One exception lies with the words oh and O. The first (oh) may be followed by either a comma or an exclamation point. The second (O) must always be written separately, capitalized and followed by an exclamation point:
Wrong: O, my joy is everlasting.
Right: O! My joy is everlasting.
One of the three endmarks (the period and the question mark are the other two), an exclamation point signals the end of a complete sentence:
Don’t leave me!
The auditorium is on fire!
No employee should leave before the end of the shift!
Clean up after yourself!
No one knows the trouble I’ve seen!
An exclamation point adds passion and intensity to a sentence. Perhaps because great emotion and logical follow-through don’t always go together—or perhaps for no reason at all—exclamation points have traditionally been allowed to mark off incomplete “sentences” as well. Note the exclamation points in these passages:
The wicked witch has cast a spell on the weary travelers. Alas! They have no idea what lies in wait for them.
Gentlemen! I will not tolerate any disrespect inside library grounds.
The instructions said to “enable macros.” Well! That step would be easy if only I could find a macro that was disabled.
A map! Inez would donate an entire tank of gas if only she had a map of the area.
Alas, gentlemen, well, and a map are not complete sentences, but the rules of grammar allow their use as exclamations.
The rules for placing an exclamation point in a quotation are similar to those governing the placement of question marks (described in Chapter 2). If the quoted material is an exclamation, the exclamation point goes inside the closing quotation mark. If the quoted material is not an exclamation but the sentence as a whole is, the exclamation point is placed outside the closing quotation mark. In quoting written material that includes an exclamation point, place the exclamation point inside the closing quotation mark. These sentences illustrate the proper placement of exclamation points:
Sarah screamed, “You caught me!”
As Nordstrom wrote in The Complete Guide to Libraries, “No library is ever completely silent!”
I can’t believe that Sarah said, “Wisconsin is my home”!
In the first sentence, the quoted words (You caught me) are an exclamation. Therefore the exclamation point precedes the quotation mark. In the second sentence, the original source contained an exclamation point, so the mark is place inside the closing quotation mark. In the third sentence the quoted words (Wisconsin is my home) are a fairly neutral statement, but the sentence as a whole is not. Thus the exclamation point comes at the end of the sentence, not at the end of the quotation.
When Both the Quotation and the Sentence Are Exclamations
If both the sentence and the quoted words are emphatic, place the exclamation point inside the closing quotation. Don’t use two endmarks.
Wrong: I can’t believe that Sarah screamed, “You caught me!”!
Right: I can’t believe that Sarah screamed, “You caught me!”
If a title is an exclamation, the author may choose to include an exclamation point or to omit this punctuation mark for literary effect. The choice is a matter of style and preference, not grammar. Once the author has made a decision, however, anyone referring to the title should abide by the author’s choice. If the title ends in an exclamation point, italicize it (for titles in italics) or place the exclamation point before the closing quotation mark (for titles enclosed in quotation marks).
Strike Three!
“Strike Three!”
You may occasionally wish to include an exclamation inside another sentence, setting it off from the rest of the sentence by enclosing the exclamation in parentheses. The first word of the exclamation is generally not capitalized, and the exclamation point goes inside the closing mark, in this way:
What he said (screamed!) was quite offensive.
The track meet is coming soon (next week!) despite your lack of preparation.
He accepted the proposal (O joy!) and will join us next week.
Note: The exclamation O is always capitalized.
Inappropriate Exclamation Points
Some writers have a habit of inserting exclamation points in parentheses, with no words at all, to show that they are surprised, offended, or amused by the quotation. Similarly, writers at times place several endmarks together to emphasize the craziness or intensity of a statement. Such punctuation is fine for comedy or informal notes or e-mails between friends. However, it is frowned upon in formal writing. The text surrounding the quotation may be a suitable spot for explaining how you feel about the quoted material.
Wrong: Scrivener wrote that he was “offended by the scene” (!) and wished to be excused from acting in it.
Right: I am stunned by Scrivener’s comment that he was “offended by the scene” and wished to be excused from acting in it.
Wrong: Mavis ate an entire jar of cherries?!!
Right: Believe it or not, Mavis ate an entire jar of cherries!