This is a perpetual topic for writers. There are a
surprising number of discussions on different topics relating to these.
First of all, is it a
point or a mark?
Both, I guess. I don’t know which is preferred.
Next, can you use
more than one in a row, such as in the title of this blog?
“Never use multiple exclamation points in a
professional setting!!! Again, this is fine to use in informal
and personal context, however most professionals agree that there should
be ONE end punctuation mark to each sentence.
Professionally, it doesn't reinforce the exclamation, it just
breaks grammatical rules.”
(Strange boldings there, if you ask me.)
(Really, though, this whole article is good if you want to
delve.)
(The article below says that if you’re going to use more
than one, use three, never two.)
(I wonder how many parentheses in a row are too many.)
When should you use
them and not use them in fiction writing?
Not for emphasis, hilarity, or excitement.
Use the writing to give emphasis and excitement. And using
them to be funny is like laughing at your own joke. Or so this site says:
It also says you should
use them for:
Raised voices, to make fun of characters, and in writing for
children.
Okay, raised voices, I’ll go along with that.
The expanded explanation on the second one is to make sure
the reader knows that what you wrote isn’t serious. I’m not sure how this is
different than laughing at your own joke, but whatev!
And for children? You know, it’s hard to get them to use
those inside voices. Maybe that should be rethought.
Here’s what Elmore
Leonard famously said:
“Keep your exclamation points under control. You are allowed
no more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose."
photo from morguefile.com
I tend to use then with an explosive "What??!!" But did not use three. LOLOL
ReplyDeleteGreat info. In one writing course I took, they advocated never using them. But, I find this more logical. There are times to use them but very infrequently. Writing down your rules :) I can't remember diddly anymore lol :) (started to put an exclamation there, but decided to play by the rules:))
ReplyDeleteI should have mentioned that emails and social media are, obviously, exceptions. We need lots of them there!
ReplyDeleteVicki, that's your style, right?
Loretta, thanks for the post. You made me laugh!
I haven't used an exclamation point/mark for years. I make up for it with semicolons.
ReplyDeleteYes, you do, Kathy. William Safire is silent on that subject. I don't know what that means.
ReplyDelete