Exclamation Point!

An exclamation point is a punctuation mark. Simply said. You probably have known that forever.

However, as a copyeditor and proofreader. I have noticed that such devices are over used and improperly used.  Depending on the context of a sentence through the voice of a certain work or certain type of writing, exclamation points are brief when showing emotion “indicating a forceful utterance or strong feeling.”  https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exclamation%20point.

An occasional emotional writer or three have used this punctuation mark after every sentence – yes, every sentence – and such a document is boring to read. Don’t do what they did. I understand and appreciate the emotions in a text or a manuscript, however, its overuse is unnecessary. Be wary and careful. Use it briefly. Briefly is the key word – to express feelings of excitement, happiness, announcements, group attention grabbers.

Here are some good examples:

Ahem!     Amen!     Bravo!     Cheerio!     Hallelujah!     Here-Here!     Hold It!     Hooray!     Wowee!     Wonderful!     Yikes!     Yeah!     Yippee!

Thank you.

#buckroth