!

[Trionyx]

Roughly midway through Netflix’ first season of the show Explained is a short segment on the exclamation point. Quite interesting, particularly with respect to gender disparity in its use and how the internet has been a source of rapid evolution in its use.

 

[Euphony]

If you develop a further interest in such things, I suggest reading Because Internet: Understanding how language is changing by Gretchen McCulloch.

Admittedly, it's skews a bit pop-sci tonally and is pretty focused on the internet story of things (tho, that overlaps an awful lot of human communication and language but we authors do paint outside those lines more regularly than most) but is absolutly fascinating and illuminating in that same vein.

I grabbed off the shelf as more of a "well, maybe" and because it happened to be there but was pleasantly surprised by what it actually had to offer.

 

[12oclocktales]

l'm afraid! I'm unfamiliar with the Netfix show you mention and can't speak to its specifics, but I'd just like to say a word or two about the exclamation point!! If that's okay!!

The exclamation point is without a doubt overused!! Why is this!!? Is it because we are so focused on ourselves that everything, and I mean everything!!! we say/write must be said emphatically to draw even more attention to ourselves?! Is everything we say/write so damned important that it must be screamed!! from the rooftops so everyone can hear it!!!? Are we afraid a mere whisper will make us simply disappear forever? Are we!!?

Originally, the exclamation point was used to mark surprise (that’s how the 1911 edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica defined it), not “Good morning!!!” Or to signal a crying out of some kind, almost always in dialogue: “Mr. Smith! Wait, Mr. Smith!” she cried as he rode away on his horse. Not “Maybe I should give my mother a call!!”

Above all, it should be! used!! sparingly!!!

 

[Trionyx]

Good point. The short little video addresses this very issue.