I’ve noticed recently that when I make comments on Facebook, other people’s blog posts, etc. I am using a ton of exclamation points. It’s sort of worrisome, because exclamation points are not something that should be overused, and as an English teacher, I should know better.
On the other hand, maybe my use of many exclamation points just shows how energetic and passionate I am? When I use them, it’s usually after writing something supportive, encouraging, or congratulatory. Or, to show how much I enjoyed something I’ve been doing. I don’t use them a lot in my “normal” writing (emails and letters), but I do use them quite a bit on the blogs.
I know this isn’t hard-hitting stuff I’m writing about today, but I’ve been noticing it, and thought I’d write about it.
What’s your take? Do you use a lot of exclamation points when you write? Do you think they’re overused?
“Cut out all those exclamation marks. An exclamation mark is like laughing at your own jokes.”
— F. Scott Fitzgerald —
I almost never use them. There are times when I think they’re important, but mostly…I agree with Fitzgerald.
Love that quote!!!
Just kidding. Had to do it.
Fitzgerald is one of my favorite authors. I completely agree with him in most cases, unless I’m relating some sort of story on my blogs that just needs more emphasis. Tone is so difficult to convey in the written word (when you’re not a master, like Fitzgerald), and I think I use them as I would with my voice when telling a story verbally.
And there are instances when you just have to have an exclamation point.
Seeing as you’re an English teacher, how about settling a grammar battle my fiance and I have been having for the last two months.
If you’re writing dialog and it says:
“What’s for dinner?” she asked.
Do you capitalize ‘she’ or not? I say no because “She asked.” Is not a complete sentence. He says yes because a question mark means the end of a sentence.
You’re right. In this case, the question mark is not the end of the sentence, because as you said, “she asked” is not a complete sentence. If it was written, She asked, “what’s for dinner?” then the next word in the sentence following it would be capitalized.
Of course, writers break grammar rules all the time, but that’s usually for stylistic reasons.
You should get the fiance to take you out to dinner or something, since you won. 🙂