The exclamation mark is one of the more popular punctuation symbols but has fallen into disrepute through overuse (and, often, misuse) and, consequently, is discouraged – if not banned – by most newspaper editors.
Yet, used sparingly, the exclamation mark adds colour and meaning to otherwise bland statements. Would the following examples convey anything like the same force and feeling without the ‘screamers’ (as the exclamation mark is sometimes, disparagingly, known)?
“Oh no”
“OMG”
“Shut up”
Our best advice is to always think twice before using an exclamation mark – and think ten times before using it more than once!
