Exclamation Marks

[Paul Whybrow]

This article from the Guardian, written by Elena Ferrante, about the use of exclamation marks in writing, had me scurrying to my WIP to check how many I've used in 29,000 words.

Elena Ferrante: ‘I make an effort never to exaggerate with an exclamation mark’

The answer is one, and that had been made by a dead forger who added an exclamation mark to her own signature in the corner of a painting she'd copied, as a protest.

I've long known that exclamation marks are frowned upon by writing gurus. As F. Scott Fitzgerald said:

“Cut out all these exclamation points. An exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke.”

Usually, it's possible to indicate shock, fear and anger by word choice.

I admit that I use exclamation marks in emails to friends, which are more colloquially phrased...and also in posts on the Colony!

Do you overindulge in exclamation marks?

 

[Amber]

I advise you to be dubious of all advice.

Do you overindulge in exclamation marks?

I have at least one character who overindulges in exclamation marks. There are people who punctuate everything they say with exclamation marks in real life, why wouldn't there be in fiction? But that's in dialogue.

 

[lrholland]

Nevah!!!!!!!!!!1111111

 

[Tim James]

I'm told (by various books on writing) that they should only ever appear in spoken dialog, and then only if absolutely needed.
In narrative, no, no, no, no. NO!!!!!

 

[Carol Rose]

Use sparingly, even in dialogue. Less is more.

 

[Tim James]

Less is more.

Absolutely.
Using them a lot devalues them.
If they only appear very occasionally they will have a more powerful effect when they do.

 

[Amber]

Nevah!!!!!!!!!!1111111

You didn’t break a pinky did you?

 

[Robinne Weiss]

I have a character in my Dragon Slayer series who talks in exclamation points. Copy editor always tries to take them all out, but it's simply the way he talks. No one else gets exclamation points in their dialogue.

 

[Andrew Okey]

This article from the Guardian, written by Elena Ferrante, about the use of exclamation marks in writing, had me scurrying to my WIP to check how many I've used in 29,000 words.

Elena Ferrante: ‘I make an effort never to exaggerate with an exclamation mark’

The answer is one, and that had been made by a dead forger who added an exclamation mark to her own signature in the corner of a painting she'd copied, as a protest.

I've long known that exclamation marks are frowned upon by writing gurus. As F. Scott Fitzgerald said:

“Cut out all these exclamation points. An exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke.”

Usually, it's possible to indicate shock, fear and anger by word choice.

I admit that I use exclamation marks in emails to friends, which are more colloquially phrased...and also in posts on the Colony!

Do you overindulge in exclamation marks?

Paul - 'hah' (or maybe - hah!!) I thought, reading your post, I hardly ever use exclamation marks. So I did a search on my novel and found 29 in 97,000 words. Which freaked me a bit, until on further reflection I realised that (a) some appear in Communist party slogans, either posted in public places or quoted by my characters (so that's just authentic...I hope) and (b) their use is otherwise exclusively in the dialogue of three characters, one of whom is 7 years old and a bit excitable, one who has monomania, and the third is a drunk who likes to tease people. Nice to be made aware of that, though - that I have essentially (over?)used them as a method of characterisation...

 

[Paul Whybrow]

I've just remembered that I previously posted on exclamation marks:

Bangorrhoea!

But, why do I still like the idea of the interrobang‽

 

[Amber]

I've just remembered that I previously posted on exclamation marks:

Bangorrhoea!

But, why do I still like the idea of the interrobang‽

Don't worry about it. Who can keep track of all the posts?