[stylist] Exclamation points

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Donna,

Thanks for this info.

In my writing classes, we were strongly advised against the use of
exclamation points. We were taught to do something to make an
exclamation clear either with some visual display such as all-caps and
bolding or within the narration. And we were taught that a statement
that's clearly an exclamation doesn't require an actual exclamation
point since it's obvious; like watch out or hurray. I had one instructor
who would take points off for using them.

When editing, one of the first things I look for are exclamation points.
It's amazing how frequently they are used even when the text doesn't
have a reason to do so.

Bridgit
Message: 6
Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2013 22:09:40 -0400
From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [stylist] Exclamation points
Message-ID: <C2953F9C86E648F387F144030540FA66 at OwnerHP>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

        Hi Friends,
After Chris's comment on the chapter of my new book which I posted for
the fantasy prompt, I looked more closely at my manuscript and was
horrified at how many exclamation points I actually used. For me, it is
mostly a dialog thing, and I could probably justify most of them, were
it not for the simple fact that people who are awake and whose opinions
I respect have become ultrasensative about them -- in part, I believe,
because of the horrors of advertising, personal e-mails and texts. 
 
The question is, "how much is too much?" So I went a-Googling and found
the following article from the Atlantic Wire (Sept. 2012). The article
follows the URL . Enjoy, Donna 
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2012/09/plea-self-control-r
egar
ding-exclamation-point/57201/
Block quote
A Plea for Self-Control Regarding the Exclamation Point - Jen Doll - The
Atlantic Wire
 
Jen Doll 
 
As we gathered punctuation favorites from a range of our favorite
writers, novelists, and word-knowledgable people, we ran into a cold,
hard fact. Some punctuation marks were hated, perhaps none more
vehemently than the exclamation point. It was a mark hated most of all,
among those we spoke to, by Grantland staff writer Rembert Browne.
Browne asked, "Am I allowed to write a note about why ! is the worst
thing in the culture of the Western Hemisphere?" Given that earlier this
year we declared the exclamation point as in many ways representative of
an entire zeitgeist, even the mark of the year, we figured we had to
give Browne's countering view some time in the sun. (One of our
commenters has called the proliferation of that allegedly foul mark an
"American issue" even as our own Rebecca Greenfield has tried to help us
all cope and, for the love of God!, tone it down a little.) Herewith, on
National Punctuation Day, Browne's plea for restraint in a time of great
punctuation excesses:
 
Hate is a strong word, one unfortunately overused to describe things
that should probably be labeled as simply dislike or despise. With that
said, I would be lying if I described my feelings toward seeing an
exclamation mark as loathe or not a fan of. The hate in my heart for the
most misused, overly used piece of punctuation is very real, and I
couldn't be prouder, seeing as that it might be the only thing I truly
stand for.
 
In 10th grade, as a response to the most recent assignment of
5-paragraph personal essays answering the gem of a prompt, "talk about
one important thing of your summer," my English teacher began the class
with the single most important lesson I learned in high school: "From
here on out, you only get seven exclamation marks in your life, so use
them wisely." I was floored. At that point in my life, I had yet to deal
with anything that long-term. This was my Aladdin/three wishes moment. I
was nervous, but also excited. 
 
Fast-forward to present day. Nine years have passed since this statement
was made and I have 5 more exclamation marks left.* Is this directly in
response to the wise words from my former teacher, the woman who
essentially taught me how to write? In some ways yes, but in my adult,
working-world years my refusal to use them (and true hatred of seeing
them scattered about) comes from the unfortunate fact that they're used
so lazily and carelessly, whenever something moderately good or bad
happens. The point of punctuation once actually meant something, but due
to the culture of using them as frequently as inhales and exhales,
they've become the grammatical "boy who cried wolf." No one is actually
as consistently excitable as their exclamation mark usage suggests, but
there will come a time when a person is attempting to convey true,
unadulterated joy ("She said yes!" or "It's a boy!" or "I won one of
those raffles to have dinner with Barack and
Michelle!") and to me, because of the person's unfortunate exclamation
track record, it'll read the same as "I overslept so hard last
night!!!!" or "Hey!" or simply "!!!!!!!!"
 
Having spoken to people who are chronic users (yes, I mean for this to
sound like a drug habit, because you people are exclamation junkies),
most admit that they know they overuse it, but in this world where so
many conversations and relationships exist via typing, they feel it's
the only way to come off as excited and grateful, especially when
dealing in work settings. This is worrisome, because it's almost as if
we've given up on attempting to construct sentences, with words, that
convey true happiness and instead simply cop out with the exclamation
mark. This is bad, people. Real bad. 
 
It's not too late to start down the path of "seven exclamation marks."
Yes, some of you are deep in the game, but your condition is not
incurable. No one is a lost cause. As rapper turned method-actor
Clifford "T.I." Harris stated in the film ATL, "I believe in you even
when you're too stupid to believe in your damn self." Know that I'm here
for you. I'm tired of fighting this battle alone and, above all else, I
care. 
 
Upon receipt of this rant we wrote back to Browne using no fewer than 7
exclamation points and a deep awareness of the fact that we are part of
the problem and not the solution. We will do better. We will try. Even
if it kills us. (!)
 
*Browne's two exclamation uses so far appeared in a mass email following
his high school graduation and in a long email to his thesis advisor, he
told us, after he found he was graduating because she'd passed him. Who
will get the remaining marks? "I think my first kid will get one (if
there are additional, probably not), wedding maybe, and then who knows,"
he says. "Lottery? Maybe paying off school loans gets two? Who knows,
I've got like 100 more years and only 5 more. Got to pace myself."