Exclamation points! Are we abusing them? Yes, I say!

One morning around 9:30, I opened an email confirming the delivery of information for a new audiobook. It had been sent before 6 AM.

“Good morning!” it began.

My translation: Oh, you’re finally up!

I went off the thread and emailed the sender directly as the exclamation point had worried me. Had we missed a deadline?

“Nothing serious,” the reply assured. “I just wanted to make sure that we had everything we needed. Thanks!”

My translation: Thanks, I mean really, thanks.

Exclamation points are all the rage—thanks! Many thanks!!

Are these tremendous shows of gratitude, which to me are over the top, even grammatically correct? Speaking of the word “correct,” I saw an email that responded to a clarification request with: “That’s correct!” So, now we’re headed into game show territory. I'm concerned.

If you go by the book, exclamation points are used to demonstrate strong feelings such as surprise, anger, or joy. By that logic, many of us are either effusively joyous throughout the day, more than pleasantly surprised, or angry at the world.

Alanna, a fellow editor and stellar writer, ‘fessed up to being a “big proponent of exclamation marks, especially in more colloquial uses.” To her, they add lightheartedness or joviality to what may otherwise be construed as harsh or uninterested. She gets deep: ”I think millennials are really fond of using them to soften our writing, and I know myself and a lot of other folks in my generation are uneasy with the finality of something like a period, fearing that it can read as aggressive or unfriendly.”

Please, all, don’t despair—this is my rant, and no one is wrong or right. At the very least, I have somewhat of a reasonable point, maybe not the most objective. Alanna’s case is sound. Example: “Good job!” vs “Good job.” The exclamation point communicates that the job was done well and appreciated, whereas the period seems to imply that the good job wasn’t exceptional and the person behind it isn’t warm or caring.

But I’m not the only one who objects to the recent exclamatory influx on grounds of grammar and style. Our seasoned copy editor and writer, Mysia, had a more traditional perspective. I guess she’s what one would call a purist just for the sheer fact that she’s a copy editor. But that doesn’t mean she’s cold by nature; she’s one of the warmest people we work with and a real pro!

“Like ellipses and em dashes, exclamation points have a valid purpose—to convey excitement or shock—and can be used effectively in storytelling, marketing copy, and informal written exchanges,” she says. She calls today’s usage “exclamation-point mania” and points out that the overuse of exclamation points reduces their impact. “My advice is to use exclamation points sparingly and exclusively with short sentences that convey urgency, strong emotion, or surprise. That way, they’ll truly mean something to your reader.”

Apparently, the exclamation point has been the subject of many conversations pertaining to grammar, and it is, whether I like it or not, a major punctuation. Commas are big too. (I am comma challenged, which is why I'm writing about exclamation points.) You'll find these listens as entertaining as they are informative.

Enjoy! (The use in this case is an example of expressing genuine well wishes.)

Listen! Now!! Don’t miss!!! our show about the exclamation point.

The exclamation point is the only punctuation mark that can express (and evoke) strong emotion. You either love them or hate them. Writers use it to express emotion that words can’t fully capture; politicians and advertisers can use it to manipulate and alarm; and authors and their editors often clash over its appropriate use.

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