When should you use an exclamation mark?

Emails, texting and social media have turned what was a relatively rare punctuation mark into a something of an invasion.

So if “he said what?!?!!!” is overkill, how should use them correctly?

Use one (one!) exclamation mark to express an emotion such as certainty, surprise, disgust, triumph, regret, etc. Use them either alone or at the end of a phrase. Wow! Fantastic! That is impressive! He did what!

Use the exclamation mark sparingly. The more you use, the more you weaken your overall message.

Use them alone without other punctuation. For example, you can write “Get out!” screamed Robert or “Get out,” screamed Robert. But you can’t write “Get out,!” screamed Robert.

It’s widely agreed that exclamation marks shouldn’t be used in formal/business/academic writing. Keep them for fiction (preferably) and informal notes, texts and emails.

Want to learn more about grammar? Check out my Getting to grips with grammar workshop.

Photo by Titouan Chassagne on Unsplash