(!) An exclamation mark (UK) / exclamation point (US) is like the full stop or period—it is generally used at the end of a sentence. It is used to show sentences that express strong feelings or a command, emphasize something, or represent something said loudly or forcefully.
Exclamation Mark / Exclamation Point (!)
What is an exclamation mark?
The exclamation mark (!) shows emphasis, forcefulness, strong emotion, or a commanding tone. Informally, writers may use more than one exclamation point for a stronger effect, but this is rarely done in formal writing.
When to use an exclamation point
The exclamation point is used to show the end of a sentence that contains strong emphasis of some kind.
The sentence may express strong feeling:
- Your fried rice is really good!
- I love you! Can’t you understand that?
The sentence may express a command or strong warning:
- Don’t buy the car! You don’t have enough money for the payments.
- If we don’t run, we’ll miss the train!
It may also be used for a short command or outburst (an “exclamation”) of one or two words.
- No!
- Stop!
- Wait!
Sometimes, in informal writing, the exclamation mark can be combined with a question mark to show a mixture of surprise and disbelief.
- Was that my sister I saw you with last night?!
- Jared told me he was thinking about marriage!? This is the first time he’s mentioned anything like this.
Formal writing tends to avoid the use of the exclamation mark, which is somewhat informal. A forceful argument is better if it is convincing on its own merits, rather than relying on the use of exclamation marks. But if a strong statement is represented in dialogue, the exclamation mark should be used.
- “Buy now! The price of this car is going up tomorrow!” the salesman shouted.
- “Stop right there, and put your hands above your head!” the police officer said.
An exclamation point is sometimes used in parentheses to show surprise or skepticism on the writer’s part.
- The writer goes on to argue that we could do away with money altogether (!) if his system were adopted.
A plain exclamation mark on a road sign (rarely used in the US) is a warning to be alert for danger ahead.
How to use the exclamation mark with quotation marks
If the exclamation point is part of the quotation, put it inside the closing quotation mark, and do not add any other punctuation. If the quotation would normally end with a comma (such as before “he said”), the exclamation point can fulfill the function of the comma.
- “I’m so excited!” my roommate said. “My boyfriend is coming to visit tomorrow!”
- “I’ve bought my ticket! I’m going to go to Vietnam!” my sister told me.
If the quotation does not include the exclamation mark, put the exclamation point outside the closing quotation mark.
- My boss said I was doing “a great job”!
The exclamation point and old typewriters
If you look at an old typewriter, you often won’t find an exclamation mark on the keyboard. Does that mean that people didn’t use them before the computer age? Not at all. You could make an exclamation point by typing a period, backspacing, and then typing an apostrophe above the period!
When Not to Use an Exclamation Point
There are several cases in which you shouldn’t use an exclamation point. The first two are to do with when another punctuation mark is more appropriate, and the second two are to do with style and, dare we say it, writing etiquette. Check them out below:
Questions
Whenever we ask a standard question, an exclamation point shouldn’t be used. This is because the question mark better communicates the meaning behind the sentence. Like this:
- What time is the movie?
However, sometimes you can use an exclamation point to end a question, if the exclamation point better communicates the tone of the sentence. For example:
- How did I forget the passports!
In the above case, some writers will use both an exclamation point and a question mark, although the exclamation point is the only punctuation that is strictly necessary. When using exclamation points in place of question marks, it should only ever be done when the tone of the sentence requires it. Otherwise, a question mark is standard.
Statements
Whenever you are making a simple statement, you need to finish it with a full stop or period. Statements are known as declarative sentences, and these should always end at a full stop. Using an exclamation point instead would not make sense, because you are not trying to show excitement or emphasis. Statements like these should always end in a full stop:
- Today the weather was hot.
- The dog sat on the porch and lazily chewed his bone.
- Making it to school on time would be a struggle in the snow, but Carrie was determined to do it.
Formal Writing
Exclamation points are seen as informal punctuation. If you are writing academically, then it is suggested that you avoid the use of exclamation marks altogether. This is because they have a way of making the reader feel as though the writer is very sure of themselves, which as in an academic essay you should never do because a balanced argument is key.
Likewise, if you are writing a report for a business about recent sales, for example, you would need to be wary of your tone. Which of these looks more professional?
- Sales have almost doubled in the past year! This is, in part at least, due to the efforts of the marketing team!
- Sales have almost doubled in the past year. This is, in part at least, due to the efforts of the marketing team.
- Notice the difference? That is why generally exclamation points should be avoided in more formal writing.
Overuse of Exclamation Points
This point is possibly the biggest one when it comes to exclamation points. They are so very overused in writing nowadays and doing so makes the writer seem unprofessional. In fictional work, for example, a writer should not have to rely on exclamation points to convey the meaning behind the sentence every time. Instead, they should be able to describe the scene and the context in such a way that the exclamation points aren’t necessary. Yes, exclamation points have their place in writing, but they should be used sparingly in order to increase their effectiveness in a piece.
Common Mistakes with Exclamation Points
In much the same way as periods, exclamation points are placed in the wrong position most often when other punctuation marks are involved. Thankfully, they do have rules.
Exclamation Points and Quotation Marks
Below we’ll show you the most common mistakes with exclamation points and quotation marks and then show you the correct way to write it:
- Incorrect: “Help, they’re chasing after me,” she yelled!
- Correct: “Help, they’re chasing after me!” she yelled.
If you are going to use an exclamation point in this scenario, then the exclamation point should come inside the quotation marks because it does not apply to the entire sentence. But what if it did?
- Incorrect: Danny watched in horror as a woman ran by yelling “help, they’re chasing after me!”
- Correct: Danny watched in horror as a woman ran by yelling “help, they’re chasing after me”!
In this scenario, the exclamation point shows that the whole sentence was exclamatory, not just the quote, so it should be used outside of the quotation marks in this case.
Exclamation Points and Parentheses
Again, we’ll show you the incorrect examples followed by the correct examples below:
- Incorrect: The woman paid little attention to the man standing beside her (one of the men who had chased her earlier)!
- Correct: The woman paid little attention to the man standing beside her (one of the men who had chased her earlier!).
Here, we need an exclamation point inside the parentheses because it only applies to that part. The woman hadn’t noticed the man standing beside her, so she wouldn’t be exasperated or anything else that would require an exclamation point to be used. But what if the exclamation point applied to the entire sentence, not just within the parentheses?
- Incorrect: The man won a million dollars (in cash!).
- Correct: The man won a million dollars (in cash)!
Here, the parentheses simply supply additional information, but the entire sentence is exclamatory because we have put emphasis on everything. To just place an exclamation point inside the parentheses suggests that the ‘cash’ is the part you want to emphasize, when in reality it’s the entire sentence.
Exclamation Mark vs. Question Mark vs. Full Stop
The exclamation point (!) is commonly used after exclamations or interjections. A full stop (.) is mostly used at the end of a declarative sentence. While we often use a question mark (?) after an interrogative sentence in English.
Examples of Using Exclamation Points in Sentences
Examples of exclamation marks which are used after interjections.
- “Ahem! Can I make a suggestion?”
- “Bingo! That’s the one I’ve been looking for.”
- “Boo!” they shouted, “Get off!”
- “A seven-layer wedding cake? Ooh-la-la!”
- “Push on 3.. 1, 2, 3.. oomph!”
- “Oy! I left my purse at home.”
- “Can I sit here?” “Uh hu!”
- “Is Paul here yet?” “Uh-uh!”
- “No school for five weeks – yippee!”
- “Yuck! I hate mayonnaise.”
Examples of exclamation points which are used after exclamatory sentences.
- What beautiful weather!
- How interesting this film is!
- How well she sings!
- The meal was so good!
- She’s such a quiet girl!
- They are such kind people!
Other examples.
- Stop!
- Sit down!
- John, don’t touch that!
- Help!
- Hello! How are you?
- Good night!
- Thank you!
- Please, help me!
Exclamation Point Quiz
Questions
Below, we’ll provide some sentences using exclamation points. Decide whether they are correct or incorrect, and if you think they are incorrect, how would you write them?
- The bird sat on the fence peacefully (the cat was already stalking its prey!).
- “How could you!” she yelled.
- “Get out of here,” he shouted!
Answers
1.Correct!
The emphasis here is within the parentheses because the bird is relaxing on the fence, unaware of the cat’s presence.
2. Correct!
BUT, it depends on the context. Here, it is appropriate because the woman is clearly distressed; we know this because she yelled it. Remember, we only use exclamation points for questions when it better displays the tone than a question mark would.
3. Incorrect!
The exclamation point here suggests the entire sentence is exclamatory, but really it’s only what’s inside the quotation marks that need to be emphasized. It should look like this:
“Get out of here!” he shouted.
