An exclamation mark is a punctuation mark used at the end of a sentence or phrase to express strong feelings, such as excitement, surprise, anger, joy, or emphasis[1][3][5].
Common uses of the exclamation mark include:
- Ending a sentence or phrase that expresses a very strong feeling or emotion (e.g., “What a wonderful day!” or “Stop!”)[1][3][5].
- Following interjections (short words or phrases that convey emotion), such as “Wow!”, “Help!”, or “Oh no!”[3][5].
- After exclamatory sentences starting with what or how (e.g., “What a performance!” or “How beautiful this place is!”)[1].
- To show a forceful command or a strong imperative (e.g., “Leave now!”)[4][6].
- Indicating a strong or emphatic declaration in dialogue or narrative (e.g., “I can’t believe it!” or “That’s amazing!”)[5].
- Sometimes used with quotations or in dramatic contexts to show emphasis (e.g., “Don’t touch that!” she shouted.)[2].
While exclamation marks can add emphasis and reflect genuine emotion, their overuse is discouraged—especially in formal writing, where they can make the text seem unprofessional, exaggerated, or childish[1][4][6]. It is best to use them very sparingly, and never to end a sentence with more than one exclamation mark[1][3][6].
References
- [1] The Full Stop, the Question Mark and the Exclamation Mark – University of Sussex
- [2] The Exclamation Mark – English Grammar Revolution
- [3] Exclamation mark – Wikipedia
- [4] The Uses of An Exclamation Point (!) in English – WhiteSmoke
- [5] Exclamation Mark Meaning, Uses & Examples – Study.com
- [6] Punctuation: Exclamation Point | Writing Style Guide – Western Michigan University
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