A quote from the University of Sussex

[oobster]

The Exclamation Mark

The exclamation mark (!), known informally as a bang or a shriek, is used at the end of a sentence or a short phrase which expresses very strong feeling. Here are some examples:

What a lovely view you have here!

That's fantastic!

Johnny, don't touch that!

Help!

Good heavens!

Aaarrgh! Examples like these are quite normal in those kinds of writing that try to represent ordinary speech ‹ for example, in novels. But exclamation marks are usually out of place in formal writing. Using them frequently will give your work a breathless, almost childish, quality.

An exclamation mark is also usual after an exclamation beginning with what or how:

What fools people can be!

How well Marshall bowled yesterday! Note that such sentences are exclamations, and not statements. Compare them with statements:

People can be such fools.

Marshall bowled very well yesterday. You can also use an exclamation mark to show that a statement is very surprising:

After months of careful work, the scientists finally opened the tomb. It was empty! It is also permissible to use an exclamation mark to draw attention to an interruption:

On the (rare!) occasion when you use a Latin abbreviation, be sure to punctuate it properly. Otherwise, you should generally avoid using exclamation marks in your formal writing. Don't write things like this:

*Do not use exclamation marks in formal writing!

*In 1848, gold was discovered in California! Don't use an exclamation mark unless you're certain it's necessary ‹ and never use two or three of them in a row:

*This is a sensational result!!! This sort of thing is all right in personal letters, but it is completely out of place in formal writing.

Summary of exclamation marks:

Don't use an exclamation mark unless it's absolutely necessary.

Use an exclamation mark after an exclamation, especially after one beginning with what or how.

[slo2]

**** that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[oobster]

I guess my extensive research into this phenomenon is only going end up with the "usual suspects" doing it more frequently, since I have set my stall out now to show that it gets right on my hairy flabby man-breasts.

Sigh.

Ah well.

[micra_wrc]

overuse of the exclamation marks annoys me too Andy, but not as much as bad grammar [*-)]

*shrug* nowt u can do about it though.... everyone is different

[st3ph3n]

[the squiggle]

Head meets brick wall in repetative bashing motion.

A well structured post is always a pleasure to read but since i was drinking meths and hairspray while i should have been sitting my GCSE's, no chance of any grammatically correct strcuture creeping into my posts.

 

[slo2]

  Quote

I guess my extensive research into this phenomenon is only going end up with the "usual suspects" doing it more frequently, since I have set my stall out now to show that it gets right on my hairy flabby man-breasts.

Sigh.

Ah well.

The main reason for doing it is I can!!!!

Some people use lotz of text LOL

others use the smily faces

others use RED INK

me I use !!!!  You need to relax more I would have thougt that washing and waxing cars would chill you out man!!

[dougster]

.....and others cannot create a thread or reply without using expletives masked as ****@@@ etc.

Oobster was your post serious?

The use of exclamation marks on forums is hardly deemed 'work' is it?

(Imy, grammar, spelling AND punctuation is also a brain strain. [])

[oobster]

  Quote

Oobster was your post serious?

The use of exclamation marks on forums is hardly deemed 'work' is it?

Naw, no really. Just an observation. I don't claim to be perfect.

slo2 - take a wee chill pill there & calm yersell.

Edit: Perhaps, with hindsight, I should have made my original post a little more "jokey" as that was the nature in which it was intended.

[rabskyline]

bad grammer can only be judged by a local who knows how the said words sounds locally n'at'no ? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a cannae comment oan the inglish as a dinnae speak ther lingo'n'at'no !!!!!!!!

pishy and very funny !!!!!!!!!(just like ma deed granny) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[oobster]

Rab.

Have you been overdoing it on the buckfast again young man?

Matron will not be best pleased.

[thewelsho]

Spot on Oob, very informative and interesting.

J

[rabskyline]

buckfast isnae realy a cheap wine ! actual fact!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ma granny deed in hur ane lavvy !!!!!

goad rest hur soal !!!!!!!!!!!!!

airdrie/coatbridge is the buckfast capital of the world !(hence the monklands !) hickup !!!!

and like oobster, there's nae sense tae this pish post ![]

and if phil wiznae on holiday ye wid be slapped fur spammin'

[zeolite]

oobster...I don't mind the exclamation marks as long as the text actually has some content. I really hate the "nice one" or "lol" posts. I mean what is the point?!!!!!!!!

I hate text speak posts as well.

How do you get on Grumpy Old Men?

[dougster]

I got told off once for putting smilies on a social background report........................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[8-)]

It's the 'tinternet' not (quite obviously) mastermind!!!!!![][][][8-|]

Further reading for Professor Oobster

P.S. this is a joke before anyone starts throwing dusters about the classroom [] 

[oobster]

ooo.... I've touched a wee raw nerve there haven't I Dogster. []

[dougster]

Not with me in anyway Andrew.

I'll catch you on MSN later as I have all these exclamation marks to edit on the site............

[oobster]

Oh your Hilarious! (note the correct use of punctuation there).

Oh no, haud oan, naw ur no.

Anyway - "whatever" - my opinion, and that of the University of Sussex, still holds. [Y]

[dougster]

Who was it that mentioned 'raw nerves'?

Of course you are entitled to your opinion.

The forum still has guidelines to prevent possible spamming and improper use of written text. (below)

Post in English

When posting on the forums, please use English, this is not limited to foreign languages, but also don't speak entirely in all-capitals, or Text-speak, or foul language.

Also if you're able to speak good English, use your abilities - computers provide you with a full keyboard, and there is no need to shorten words to letters (for example you = u, and your = ur) therefore please use full words.

[oobster]

  Quote

Of course you are entitled to your opinion. 

Correct - and so are you Dougster, so are you.

I have vented my annoyance at the over use of excalmation marks, perhaps in the whole grand scheme of things it isn't that important and perhaps a little "anal", but it is an opinion none the less.

Perhaps we should let this thread die a death now.

[dougster]

I concur.